ConneXion

Welcome to ConneXion!  And as of the time right now on Wednesday morning, we are only 18 days away from kick-off!

ConneXion is a new worship service at First United Methodist Church and will be a wonderful addition to the three we currently offer on Sundays: 8.30a is casual in the sanctuary; 10.55a traditional with choir, piano and pipe organ; NEXT, our emergent experience at 6p at Mead's Corner coffeehouse.  ConneXion will be at 9.30a in our gym and will be casual and contemporary.

I hope you will begin to talk it up with anyone you know who doesn't have a church home, or maybe those who have been away for a while and especially those who may have never heard of God's amazing love.  Everyone is welcome, no matter what age or background.  Our volunteer leadership team is comprised of a wonderful variety of people from as young as middle-schoolers all the way to some grandparents, and all ages in between.  We think this worship experience will be just right for many from 8 to 88!  So those who like drums and guitars, a laid-back yet exciting atmosphere, a place where you can encounter Christ and make new friends, this just might be worth checking out.

So why "ConneXion?"  We had several great suggestions and wonderful conversations about each of them.  But in the end, the majority liked ConneXion the best for several reasons:
Connect to new friends through fellowship and small groups;
Connect to God through many ways including worship, prayer, the Word, communion;
Connect your faith in Christ to the world we live in through challenging, relevant and biblical preaching;
Connect others to God through the ministries and service that God calls you to.
Why the "X" in ConneXion? Great question!  The "X" is the Greek letter for Christ, who is our reason and purpose for all we do.

We are still praying for more people to join our team and there are many ways you can help.  If you are interested in seeing how you might jump on board then get in touch with me soon.  I will look forward to visiting with you.  And if you're free on Thursday at noon, Sept 1st, come on downtown and join us in the gym for prayer as we continually invite and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit, who brings Life. Downtown. not only to this new work, but to all our ministries.

Blessings, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Rev Todd

Provision and Excitement

I have been hoping to find time to post progress a few times each week, if not daily.  However, things have been super busy and I actually should be doing something else while I'm writing this now.  It's kind of the "clean the baseboards" when you really have to study for a test kind of thing.  But there is much to share.

First of all, we officially have a name for the new service.  Many of you know what it is because you helped to name it.  We had some great suggestions and wonderful dialogue as we came to what we have.  The good news is that as far as I can tell, even the few who were not particularly fond of the name we collectively chose are totally on board with it now that the decision was made.  So what's the name for the new service?  Well, you'll have to wait.  I'll make another post very soon with the name and the graphic for it.  A great big thanks to First Church staff Erin Davis and Jeremy Fredin who put their time and talents into the graphic creation. 

We have been so blessed to have an energetic and growing team of leaders.  I won't name them all here, simply because I'm in such a scurry that I certainly would forget someone.  However, what was about 10 or so has now turned into dozens of people in all ages on board with the new service.  We've got leaders as young as middle school, a terrific number of high school and college kids, lots of folks in their 20's, 30's and 40's, and I think I'm most excited about a few grandma's and grandpa's who have shown up BIG TIME with support, prayers, and sleeves rolled up ready to help out however needed.

In addition to the growing number on our leadership team (and room for many more), we also have had a very generous donation from one of the most godly and generous men I've ever known.  He and his wife have been so good to our church in so many ways and we are truly blessed by their support and ministry.  Our team has so many wonderful ideas as we plan to reach out and minister to the community, but the truth is, to pull it all off we will need some funds for gear.  This is certainly not a plea for funds, but rather an invitation for you to pray for God's provision.  Who knows who God might lead to team up with us.  Here are a few of our needs and desires for you to consider: banners for the gym to help baffle sound, but also to provide beauty; lighting; pub tables to promote fellowship, plus just to have somewhere to set your coffee and visit; additional projectors. 

There is so much more to share, but this is all I have time for now.  But before I close, I would like to invite everyone and anyone available to join us for prayer in the gym on Thursday, Sept 1st at noon.  Bonnie Beuning has been so faithful in covering this work in prayer, as I know many others have.  But we would love to have others join us as we pray together.  If you cannot make it downtown to pray with us, please let me know that you are praying where you are.  It is so great to know who is out there praying for things to come together for the 18th, and praying for the souls in our area who will be touched by God's Spirit through this work.  All of this is truly about them.

Blessings,

Rev Todd