Why is PCUMC YOUR church?
Why is Pendleton Center United Methodist YOUR church? Is it because of terrific children’s and youth programs? Because worship is exciting, Bible studies enrich your faith, and you sense a real connection to God? Maybe you find meaningful service through PCUMC’s mission and outreach and connection to your Christian family by sharing the work and play at church together? I hope you find your place in God’s Kingdom through all these.
Lent is a time when we reflect on who we are as people in God’s Kingdom and what God calls each of us to.
As Christians in the United Methodist Church, we have a covenant together, with each other and God, to “faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” This is part of our Baptismal Covenant and the promise we make when we commit to being a part of the church. It’s a promise made regardless of the changes that may come our way.
When I became a United Methodist minister, I promised to abide by the covenant among clergy to uphold the rules of our Book of Discipline. One of the rules is that pastors serve based on what the bishop discerns as being best for all the churches and pastors of the Annual Conference they are responsible for. This is part of how I “faithfully participate in the ministries of the church.”
On July 1, Pastor Tom will retire and I will begin a new chapter of my ministry serving at Elma UMC. I have been blessed to serve at PCUMC for eight years. You have all become so dear to me. My promise to you is to be a witness to all I have learned in the time I’ve been here by serving well in the church God is sending me to in July.
My prayer for you is that you will continue to faithfully serve God through the ministries of PCUMC, that you will continue to love and care for each other, and that you will love and care for your new pastor with the love you have given me these past eight years. And I pray you will always continue to be the Kingdom of God at Pendleton Center together.
Blessings!
Pastor Lisa