Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
January 2016
I would like to start the New Year by saying 'thank you'!
I guess the Minister, more than most, sees just how much time and effort many people put in to make the church work - to make it run smoothly. So I would like to acknowledge the commitment of those people who not only serve the church but more importantly serve God in what they do. These include our Local Preachers (most of whose work you do not see because it is done at other churches in the Circuit), our Church Stewards, our organists, our welcoming & communion stewards and those who look after the spiritual needs of children in the Sunday Squad. It also includes those who help in the upkeep of our property, those who manage our financial resources, our Pastoral Visitors and those who arrange for our refreshments and our meals. And we must not forget those whose work for God's Kingdom is outside the church, those who represent our church in the community, at the Foodbank, with the Redcar Beacons, in school assemblies and in a variety of other ways. All of these fulfil essential roles without which the church would not function well - so we need to say 'thank you' to them all.
And as we come to the time of our annual Covenant Service I would just ask you all to examine again what services God might be calling you to offer in the church - for I believe everyone is called to serve Him in the church somehow - and muse on those words, "God has many services to be done: some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both." To what what service is God calling you this year?
Can I just point out that we are looking for at least a couple more folk to act as Pastoral Visitors to make up for those we have lost this last year (Brenda and Sheila have asked to be relinquished of their duties and Mike, Janet and Marjorie have 'moved on' in different ways - our thanks to them all).
And can I also make a special plea to those who are physically fit and well to bear in mind when things like tables and chairs need setting up or putting away - especially for the big fundraiser/social events - as this task is too often now falling on our catering ladies who have plenty to do in the kitchen as it is.
And finally, in a recent meeting of the Redcar Churches Together 'core group' the idea was hatched of inviting more people from our churches to attend our meetings so as to breathe fresh life and inspiration into the activities we arrange. We have tweaked the time of the next meeting to 7 pm on 28th January at the Baptist Church on Park Avenue so as to allow a greater number of the 'working' generation to attend. If you are interested, please just turn up.
All Blessings