Pastors Mumblings:
"For I know the plans I have for you." Declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Fall greetings, Church family. As I write this, my heart overflows with gratitude for each of you. I am deeply blessed to be walking this journey of faith alongside such a vibrant, loving congregation. My time here remains a source of profound joy and love. Looking back at our recent small groups, I am moved by how beautifully they went and how wonderful it has been to connect with nearly every one of you. God is truly doing a sweet work of fellowship among us. As many of you know, we are temporarily meeting in Wesley Hall because of our current Bat situation. We hope that within the next few weeks we will be rid of them/ Once our sanctuary is thoroughly sanitized, cleaned, and safe, we will be able to return to our services there.
I must say, I felt that last Sunday, our very first Sunday in the hall, went extremely well. I know everyone thoroughly enjoyed having beverages and snacks right there while the service was going on. We will continue providing those snacks and beverages each week until we are back in our beautiful sanctuary. Sign-up sheets are on the table in the hall if you would like to help with setup and cleanup, or bring snacks. I want to thank every one of you from the bottom of my heart for your patience, flexibility, and understanding while we take care of our sanctuary and ensure everyone stays healthy,
Even with these temporary changes, our Autumn calendar is bursting with opportunities to gather, grow, and share in God's love. Here are a few exciting updates and invitations:
A Season of Sweet Fellowship:
Our recent Pastor's Barbecue went over extremely well! It was a beautiful time of fellowship, and everyone loved playing games and simply having time together. Building on that wonderful momentum, our second fellowship event will be a POTLUCK and ICE CREAM social on Saturday, September 26. Please join us for an afternoon of sweet treats and even sweeter community! Please bring a main dish or side dish to share. If you are not an ice cream fan, please feel free to bring a dessert. Looking further ahead, we are planning many more potlucks, game afternoons, and evenings. Our goal is to keep something special on the calendar each month to keep our church family connected.
THE GATHERING HUB!!!
By now you have likely noticed a small note in the bulletin each week mentioning the hub. We have deliberately kept the details quiet, but the wait is almost over! If you want to finally discover what the Gathering Hub is all about, come to church on Sunday, September 27. You won't want to miss it!
A SEASON OF UNITY: Our Fall Festival
Get ready to have some real fun! Our fall festival is under a revamp! We will be holding the festival earlier. Mark your calendar for October 24. Ron and Linda Vaughn have graciously agreed to move the date. We are reshaping the festival into a GRAND, church-wide celebration. Costumes are encouraged but not necessary. We will have tables set up with a theme at each table; you are welcome to take on a table and decorate it for Halloween. A few ideas include a carnival theme table, a pirate theme table, a golf course table, a Mad Hatter table, a circus table, and many more. I have it on good authority that Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head will have a table! Hummm, who could that be? My prayer is that this event will be a beautiful demonstration of our unity, bringing everyone out to fellowship like the good old days. We'll have tons of decorations, life-size blowups, candy, food, and so much more. Our festival will start earlier so everyone can enjoy it, and you won't have to worry about it running too late. Most importantly, every generation has a meaningful place to participate. While the energetic ones can run about, our treasured elders and seasoned saints can bless us by helping in gentler, vital ways, whether that is sitting comfortably at the table to put donuts on strings, handing out flyers, or simply relaxing and enjoying the crisp autumn air, warm company, children's faces, and lots of fun! Please plan to come out and join us for this day of togetherness.
An Update on the Ruby Celebration:
Because of the Bat situation in the sanctuary, we sadly had to put our Ruby Celebration on hold temporarily. While this delay deeply saddens me because I was so looking forward to it, please know that we fully intend to celebrate our treasured elders later, once our sanctuary is fully restored.
Blessings of the Animals:
Looking at October, I am eagerly anticipating our upcoming Blessings of the Animals service. It will be a beautiful time to thank God for the creatures that bring such unconditional love into our lives. Stay tuned for more info.
A Milestone Anniversary:
On a personal note, Ron and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this November! To praise God for these two decades of marriage, there will be a special service and reception here at the church on Saturday, November 7th; the entire church family is warmly invited to celebrate with us. More information will follow soon.
November Harvest:
I am also deeply looking forward to helping with and being part of our traditional Harvest Dinner on November 1. Make sure to mark your calendars. The end of November brings Advent, the Hanging of the Greens, and the Creche Festival. I am excited to be a part of both, especially the Creche Festival. This will be my first one! As we prepare our hearts and space for Christ's birth, I invite you to come out, lend a hand decorating our church, and join the excitement and good cheer of the season of our Savior's birth.
Anticipating Advent and Christmas
As the year draws to a close, December will bring a beautiful mix of sacred traditions and joyful new activities. We will share the warmth of a Cookie Exchange in early December. We will also be introducing a festive Breakfast with Santa & Bake Sale. This promises to be a lot of fun, with elves and stories from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Breakfast will be served, and Santa will be munching it right along with you. There will be a beautiful bake sale where you can purchase goodies to take home as part of your Christmas celebrations. This will be an exciting time and promises to be a fun-filled morning. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for pictures, Christmas carols, and more!
Church Charge Conference:
Our church charge conference will take place on December 6th. This is a vital moment for our church's governance and spiritual vision, and I ask everyone to make a special effort to stay after the church service. DS Mary Maaga will lead the conference, and there will be a meal afterward. I know you will want to see her and give her warm holiday greetings.
Finally, to celebrate the season of giving, I will be hosting Pastors Christmas at the Parsonage. The entire congregation is invited into my home for holiday cheer, fellowship, and yes, lots and lots of food, treats, and more.
God is bringing forward so many beautiful events and community outreach for our church family. I look forward to all the ways we will grow together in the months ahead. Thank you for your faith, your love, and your dedication to this church family. I am truly blessed to lead you.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Noel
