A Word From the Pastor (October 2008)

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are invited to think and pray and plan for the ministry of the Fishkill United Methodist Church.  Our annual Church Conference is slated for Monday, October 13, at 7:00 PM.  All members of the church are urged to attend as we vote for trustees and officers for the coming year, set salaries for 2009, and consider our budget needs for the future.  The annual Church Conference is a time to consider what we have done in the past, where we are now, and what we hope to accomplish in the future.  It is a time to prayerfully consider the challenges and struggles that we face while opening ourselves to God’s Spirit as we seek to be faithful in fulfilling our present and future mission.

In preparation for this important annual gathering, Bishop Jeremiah Park and our district superintendent, the Rev. Jeannette Bassinger-Ishii, have invited us to ponder certain critical questions.

1. What have we done this year, to make this church more welcoming?
2. What have we done this year, to deepen the faith of church members?
3. What plans do we have to promote a connection between the church and the community?
4. What plans do we have to promote a connection between this church and the unchurched in our community?

In other words, what are we doing to make disciples of Jesus Christ?

Too often in the church we become busy with “church work,” maintaining the organization, paying the bills, coordinating programs, while losing sight of the purpose of the church, which is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ.”  Again and again, the question needs to be asked: are we spending ourselves, our time, our gifts, our talent, our money, our resources, on things that truly matter, on things that have eternal value, on things that promote the kingdom of God and proclaim Christ’s love?  Is the business and “busyness” of the church really accomplishing its purpose fulfilling Christ’s mission?

As we prepare for this year’s Church Conference, I challenge all of you to reflect on the purpose, mission, and ministry of the church.  Are we really fulfilling Christ’s call to “fish for people”?  Are we, as the Fishkill U.M. Church, touching people in ways that help them to grow into Christ’s likeness, and to live more faithful lives as children of God?  Do we see people around us being changed through the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst?  Is the good news of Jesus Christ going out from this congregation to touch the community?  Is the world beyond our church walls being transformed by Christ’s love through our ministry in his name?

I invite you to attend our annual Church Conference on Monday, October 13, at 7:00 PM.  Yes, there will be leaders and trustees to elect, budgets to ponder, salaries to set, business to transact.  But our hope is to address bigger questions, more weighty matters.  Hopefully, we can go beyond the business and the “busyness” to ponder our mission together, reflect on our ministry, and recommit ourselves to the purpose for which we were called:  to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Hope to see you on the 13th.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff