It is typical in the church to put together an annual report to the congregation. It is a way of looking back so that we can see more clearly how to move forward in the coming year. Below are my renderings fo the past year and what I look forward to in 2014. As I…
Tag: church
View of a Leader
“A leader is someone who unites people to work towards a common goal. A leader is someone who creates collaboration.” “Choose your battlefields.” –Spoken by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia in an interview found in How Great Women Lead by Bonnie St. John and Darcy Deane A good leader is someonewho can remain strong even…
Pastor’s Letter – February 2013 – Beloved Community
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The church was closed Sunday, February 10 due to a record-breaking snowstorm that hit Suffolk County and the area around Farmingville hard. As Newsday reported, according to the National Weather Service in Upton, “The blizzard unleashed up to 33 inches of snow as recorded in Medford, and wind gusts…
Pastor’s Letter – September 2012 – Staying Connected
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the {person} who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers]…
Pastor’s letter – August 2012 Imagine the Limitless Possibilities!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I witnessed a great joy this summer! I felt this joy on the last Sunday in July, on the grounds of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Farmingville, NY. The day started out grey and bleak. The skies were laden with dark clouds and there was a light…
Pastor’s Letter for July 2012 – Refresh, Renew and Respond
Rev. Freeman Palmer Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ, I just returned from a trip to Binghamton, NY where the ministers and lay leaders from the United Church of Christ in New York gathered to refresh, renew and to respond to the new thing that God is doing in and around them.
Greystone Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City
Greystone Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City is experiencing transformation. Around 2008 Greystone was considering closing the church, due in part to dwindling, graying membership. At that same time they call a young pastor, Timothy Blodgett. What happened next was a lot of conversation, prayer and an unexpected offer from a neighboring church to buy the…
Pastor’s Letter for June 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, By the time you read this letter, Pentecost will be upon us. Jesus would have ascended back to heaven and the Holy Spirit would come as promised to be our helper here on earth. When we think about the Holy Spirit, we may think about the wind. You might…
The Event: A Day of Reflection – Our Past
The event is held during the worship time. The event as designed here should take about 75 minutes. Materials needed: Newsprint and/or Eraser Board Magic markers Bibles and Hymnals Healthy Congregations survey Ground Rules for Mutual Communication Paper and pens for small group leaders Folding chairs A bell or xylophone (used to get their attention) Timer…
Pastor’s Letter for May 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As I write this letter, I am still glowing from a magnificent Easter Sunday. It began with the men of the church cooking breakfast for all of us early risers. The food was great and the fellowship was even better! Alleluia! Then we moved outside to watch the children…
Nealand Ministries: A Ministry of Revitalization 