Messiah Family and Friends,
We had our congregational meeting last Sunday and we are off and running in a new year. At this congregational meeting, we elected Beth Gatzke and Shannon Spicciati to fill vacancies on the Endowment Committee. We elected four members to the council: Dan Fergueson, Josh Luebke, Sheilia McLaughlin and Lauren Mendez. We approved a budget; the expected expenses are $655,543. The difference between expenses and projected income is $38,532. The council set aside $38,532 as carry forward dollars in case they are needed to fund the general budget. There will be a balance of over $108,000 in reserves after spending these funds (we have had a couple of good years). I want to thank you for your continued support. We as a church community have so much to be thankful for as we move forward together. On a personal note, I want to thank you all for allowing me the honor and privilege of serving as your council president for the last two years. Thank you!
As my time as President draws to an end, I reflected back and one of the first items we addressed was to shut down church services due to Covid. Then with time we started to regather, we brought back our music teams, and we started to adapt to our new normal (oh, how I dislike those words). Yea… you’re right that didn’t last long enough, and we went back to remote services again (bet your glad you elected me to council). I just want to remind you that Messiah is coming back, and we are coming back strong. I think that as we continue on this journey, we need to take a moment and stretch, yes, I said stretch.
We’ve all heard about stretching. There is stretching in yoga, we stretch when we get up in the morning, and we stretch when we’ve been sitting to long. In baseball we have the 7th inning stretch and there is also the home stretch when a runner rounds that last corner and heads for the finish line. I believe that spiritual stretching is also something God wants us to do in our lives.
Just like physical stretching, spiritual stretching is not easy. Stretching requires us to push beyond your normal level of comfort. If you don’t like to stretch, you’re not alone. I pray that you can find ways to stretch yourself and your service to this church. Give more than you thought you could give (I’m not just talking about money here). Volunteer in programs that are new to you. Step into waters that are deeper than you’ve been in before. Believe in more than you think is possible and watch what God does.
In the coming months, I believe that our church is going to see good change. I believe that we will start regathering again soon and resume our coffee hour after church. These will get us back to where we have been, but not where we should be. As we bring programs back, we can’t do that without your help. We will need people to do all the things we used to: help with coffee, youth group, church service projects, and the list goes on and on and on. In order for us to be the vibrant church we can be, we will need to stretch out and help. I look forward to seeing each other as we move out of this time of, (whatever you want to call it, I have a few words for it, just shouldn’t type them in a church message), and into a time of resurgence. This we need to do together joined in our love of Christ. Our church will be at its best when each of us exercises our gift as the Lord intended. This is the point Paul makes: “From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:16 NIV)
Faithfully,
Charlie Radabaugh, Messiah Council President
