The Word Interpreted: One for Launch

This Week and Upcoming
Work Team BBQ, Friday, May 18, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
Church Council, Sunday, May 20, following the mission lunch
Retreat to Camp Don Lee, Memorial Day weekend
Talent Show & Dessert, Saturday, June 2, 6:30 PM
Special Music Sunday, June 3, 11:00 AM morning worship; covered dish lunch will follow

• Aseptic drink boxes (discard straws)

• Newspaper and all inserts (recycle any plastic delivery bags at grocery stores)

• Magazines and catalogs

Hello, Friends of Jesus!

We celebrate this week that twenty-one Wesleys, along with Kirk and Anita, are doing post-Irene
home repairs at the coast. Pictures are popping up on Facebook!

Fairmont’s work team continues to prepare. We can give support by eating well, doing good – a
Fairmont thing! BBQ plates are available Friday, May 18, 11 am – 7 pm. For info and orders,
shoot Henry a note: jarretth@bellsouth.net

See you in church!

Pastor Steve

Hello, LIVE! Friends!

Big doin’s at Fairmont!

* Friday, May 18,  11 am – 7 pm, BBQ – $9/plate (lots of food, lots of help to our work team)
Take outs available.

* Sunday Night LIVE! The remarkable Reggie Jeffries bringing the music. We celebrate Reggie’s joining the staff of First United Methodist, Graham, in early fall.

* The meditation at SNL! is “Multiplication Table,” from Mark 8:1-10.

When I see YOU in worship, it makes my DAY!

Peace and Prayers,
Pastor Steve

I’ve been reading the reflections of Jeff Severt, Executive Director of New Faith Communities in our NC Conference. Many of our churches are in decline, two of the churches I served (1977-81) have even closed. For years, while the NC Conference has not kept up with population changes, the church as a whole has experienced some growth. One of the chief reasons membership in the NC Conference has not declined is the planting of new churches.

In the midst of that mild success, Jeff has raised some challenging questions. Even as we gain new members, are we gaining “disciples?” We like the “privileges” of membership, but we’re not so sure about the … calling? In our coffee/donut room is an old poster that will likely disappear when I do: “Free Coffee and Eternal Life: Membership Has its Privileges.”

Severt calls Methodism “the last truly global movement.” We grew out of a sect of the Anglican Church, spreading across the American frontier. “At one point, 35% of all Americans were in a Methodist Class Meeting, usually in somebody’s home.” Think of that!

One of the things that marked that movement was very St. Paul, a “priesthood of all believers.” Laity and clergy alike were engaged in the 5-fold ministry of Ephesians 4: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds and Teachers. But alas, we went and built us a whollotta churches, then hired us a bunch of full-time preachers – who, Severt says, had to “justify that position by collecting the 5-fold ministry unto themselves.” Yikes!

Perhaps most compelling in his article* was a discussion about “consumers” and “disciples.” If we start new churches, get people to check them out, see how excellent and sincere we are, win their hearts to Jesus, we have operated on a “consumer” model. We have offered a way to shop, a way to buy – or consume. But a way to serve? To follow Jesus? Not so much?

Disciples are world-changers – transformers of the world. That’s what the United Methodist Church has identified as our corporate calling –

Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by proclaiming the good news of God’s grace and by living out Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor. (Discipline, 2008)

Severt suggests we move beyond “come & see” to “go & be.” To accomplish that one must be shaped, formed in spirit – just as were the members of the Methodist “class meetings.

No, we’re not a “new church start” – far from it. In fact, this very year we celebrate 75 years of … membership or discipleship? May we “go and be!”

Pastor Steve

* kingdomBUILDER, Volume Eighteen, No. 2, 10 Dollar Club, NC Conference. By the time you get this, it should be posted at newfaithcommunities.net.