Pastor’s Perspective: HEALTHY CHURCH WEEKEND ALL members and friends of Berkeley are warmly invited to participate in the March 7-8 consultation designed to build on our strengths and improve our overall health. The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) is offered by our Rio Texas Conference to those churches who choose it. Last summer, our church council voted to enter into HCI. Since then, our Leadership and Prayer Teams have worked hard to prepare us for the consultation. When to come: (1) Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The 6-member consultation team, led by Rev. Bob Allen, will lead this all-church workshop to offer ways of moving from maintenance to missional thinking. We will work at tables of 6- 7 people and then share our ideas with the team. There will be time for questions and discussion. Lunch included if you make your reservation; sign up in worship or call the church office. (2) Sunday, March 8, 8:30 or 10:50 a.m. Worship with Rev. Allen preaching, then covered-dish lunch and Town Hall Meeting in the Fellowship Hall. Rev. Allen will present the team’s Ministry Assessment Plan (MAP), designed after the Saturday workshop’s inputs from those who attend. What next? Berkeley’s Leadership Team will host two Town Hall meetings in the sanctuary where everyone is invited to discuss the MAP, on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. or Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. Questions will be shared and answered; discussion is encouraged. Final vote will occur on Sunday, March 29 at a church conference with our district superintendent following the 5 th Sunday covered-dish lunch. (All professing members of the church who attend will have a vote.) Please participate. HCI is designed to assist healthy churches like Berkeley to grow even healthier. Praying and working, as we will do, can reduce anxiety and open us up to the Holy Spirit’s movement. I welcome your questions, and most of all, I hope to see you on March 7-8. Your pastor, Jeanne Devine BERKELEY STAFF Ministers Members of the Congregation Pastor Rev. Jeanne Devine [email protected]Director of Music Vikki Schwarz [email protected]Pianist Dr. Tyler Mabry [email protected]Administrative Assistant Liz Smith [email protected]Childcare Director Allison McGillicuddy [email protected]Church Office Hours Monday—Friday 8:45am to 3:15pm Closed Daily for Lunch from 12 noon to 12:30pm BerkeleyBuzz March 2015 Berkeley United Methodist Church COMING THIS MONTH: Healthy Church Weekend, March 6-8 Palm Sunday, March 29 Church Conference, 12:45pm, March 29
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Pastor’s Perspective: HEALTHY CHURCH WEEKEND
ALL members and friends of Berkeley are warmly invited to
participate in the March 7-8 consultation designed to build on our
strengths and improve our overall health. The Healthy Church
Initiative (HCI) is offered by our Rio Texas Conference to those
churches who choose it. Last summer, our church council voted to
enter into HCI. Since then, our Leadership and Prayer Teams have
worked hard to prepare us for the consultation.
When to come: (1) Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the
Fellowship Hall. The 6-member consultation team, led by Rev. Bob
Allen, will lead this all-church workshop to offer ways of moving
from maintenance to missional thinking. We will work at tables of 6-
7 people and then share our ideas with the team. There will be time
for questions and discussion. Lunch included if you make your
reservation; sign up in worship or call the church office. (2) Sunday,
March 8, 8:30 or 10:50 a.m. Worship with Rev. Allen preaching, then
covered-dish lunch and Town Hall Meeting in the Fellowship
Hall. Rev. Allen will present the team’s Ministry Assessment Plan
(MAP), designed after the Saturday workshop’s inputs from those
who attend.
What next? Berkeley’s Leadership Team will host two Town Hall
meetings in the sanctuary where everyone is invited to discuss the
MAP, on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. or Sunday, March 15 at 3
p.m. Questions will be shared and answered; discussion is
encouraged. Final vote will occur on Sunday, March 29 at a church
conference with our district superintendent following the 5th Sunday
covered-dish lunch. (All professing members of the church who
attend will have a vote.)
Please participate. HCI is designed to assist healthy churches like
Berkeley to grow even healthier. Praying and working, as we will
do, can reduce anxiety and open us up to the Holy Spirit’s
movement. I welcome your questions, and most of all, I hope to
Making a Difference Church Happenings Berkeley Buzz, March 2015, Page 3
Berkeley Buzz, March 2015, Page 4
Spiritual Growth
Some Things Pastors Would Rather Not Hear (continued from February Buzz 2015): 8. “What committee’s job is that?” Asked when something needs to be done here. First of all,
one doesn’t need to be on a committee in order to pitch in and help; everybody is welcome. Second, our
church’s size means many things are everybody’s responsibility. Next time: “I know we need to get X
done. How can I help?”
7. “Where are all the…[fill in the blank] people?” Asked when we notice we don’t have as many
[blank] people as we used to. I believe we know where they are, in our extended families and friendship
networks, in our neighborhoods, in the places we work. We can personally invite them back, or invite
them to come with us on Sunday or to a special event. Next time: “Pastor, this is [Name], my grandchild/
neighbor/friend/co-worker. He/she came with me today.”
6. “Whatever happened to [name of missing member]?” Have you called the people you
miss? Do they know you miss them? While the pastor, Congregational Care and Spiritual Care also reach
out to people who aren’t as involved as formerly, it is great for people who miss them to make personal
contacts. Next time, make the call yourself and if necessary, let me know I need to follow up.
Rev. Jeanne Devine
Lead Like Jesus Submitted by Rachel Trudell
In the month of March, our church is facing the opportunity to deepen and strengthen Berkeley's purpose in God's Will. The Spiritual Care Ministry asks that we allow our hearts and minds to be willing to commit to the time and focus this will ask of you.
From “Lead Like Jesus”, an on-line daily devotional, February 18, 2015:
There is a longing to succeed within all of us, a desire to accomplish the dreams and visions God gives us. The ac-
complishment of great things comes from faithfully doing what is in front of us each step along the way. Where do
you need to run with perseverance?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.
—Hebrews 12:1-3
Prayer: God, when the road ahead is marked by struggle, even pain and suffering, let us follow Jesus and not lose
Berkeley UMC’s contribution to Heifer International for February 2015 totaled $1,274.
Thank you for your generosity!
Healthy Church Initiative Schedule of Events
March 7, 10am-2:30pm, FH, HCI Workshop March 8, 12 noon, FH, Covered Dish Luncheon and Town Hall Meeting March 12, 7pm, Sanctuary, Town Hall Meeting March 15, 3pm, Sanctuary, Town Hall Meeting March 29, 12 noon, FH, Fifth Sunday Potluck and Church Conference