The members of the Annual Conference chose not to request that we have our own bishop, but instead passed legislation that - "in order to save money" - will see more joint committees, task-forces & programs shared with the Tennessee Conference. If what has happened in other Conferences is an indication of what's really up here, all this means that merger with the Tennessee Conference is roughly at most a decade away. This same money-sharing collaboration scheme between conferences was the first step toward the eventual merger of two separate conferences into one larger, more bureaucratized conference in the following states: Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Indiana. Yes, money was saved, but service and mission programs were cut and membership has continued to decline in all these conferences. In truth, no mater what is done on the Conference or national level, the real place where religion and faith-development occur is on the local and face-to-face level - and that's where our main concern should be and currently is!
One thing we want to start doing immediately - here at St. Andrew - is to have an ongoing collection of non-perishable foods for the Reelfoot Mission, Thus, if you have spare can goods or other non-perishable dry foods stuffs please bring them with you to church any Sunday (or any day the church office is open). We will collect them at the church office. In this way we will not have a one-time only push, but an ongoing support of Reelfoot.
This past month saw the Lunch bunch gathering at Perkins. This month our Lunch Bunch plans to gather for a shared luncheon here at the Fellowship Hall of the church on Thursday, July 10th at 11:30. Hope to see you there.
This past month also saw your pastor and Cliff Laird traveling to Lake Zurich, Illinois for formalized training in a new planned missional program called "Celebrate Recovery." A Memphis Conference grant paid for this training. Cliff gave a very touching report to the Church on our experiences there and our hopes for this program which seeks to help people come together with Christ to walk down the road toward recovery from their hang-ups, hurts, and habits. We are now in the process of discernment as to our next steps in this ministry. Please pray for this program as we seek to link up with and find other interested folks to take leadership positions and form the initial small group that will move to begin the intensive prayer period that is the first step toward implementation.
I informed you last week that the cost of the new air-conditioner was $9,000.1 am pleased to report that due to your special contributions we are now 2/3rds of the way towards meeting this cost. It you haven't made a special contribution to help defray this cost - above and beyond your regular tithe - please consider doing so. We need to insure that we do not dry up our reserves in paying this off. However, given the current financial status of our church, I am still asking that you go through your Christmas Card lists (or other sources), collect the names and addresses of those people who were once members or who grew up in this church (including your own children) but have moved elsewhere (either out of Jackson or to another church here in town); and bring this list to worship, Sunday School or the church office. Your pastor-parish committee is in agreement that we need to send out a letter to these persons whose hearts should have a special fondness for St. Andrew and make a plea for their financial aid to ensure that this congregation continues to maintain itself and it's mission to our community. If you have any other ideas on how to raise funds please call or write or stop me in the hall with your ideas.
As we come into the July Fourth - National Independence - Holiday let us remember the words of Benjamin Franklin: "When a people give up their freedoms for security, they end up with neither." and "Freedom is never free." The same is true with our faith: If we give up the Biblical principals of our faith and give up following all the commands of Jesus in order to fit in with any given society so as to be financially comfortable, we end up with a social form of Christianity which is a showy, performance-based faith without the substance of the faith Christ calls us to. The "true faith" then deforms itself into a "religious or social faith" which is a faith without repentance, without grace, and without the Cross. Such a "social faith" can not and will not sustain us in this life and it will not allow entrance into the eternal Kingdom of God. Remember our faith is not meant to be about us alone - it is meant to be shared and spread - it is meant to about reaching outside our doors to others.
Thus, as the heat of summer warms our skin, let us remember to warm the hearts and souls of others with our love of Christ. Do what Christ call us to do: pass on the Good News!
In Peace, I an your servant in the service of Christ,
T. J. Wesley