Jody's Journal

June 14, 2007

Dear Family and Friends of the Kirk,

As you read this I am preparing to join the youth on their annual mission trip to Appalachia. I’m excited about the opportunity to join them and to get to know them. We will be in Man, WV with youth from First UMC in Cary. While I will enjoy the time with our youth, I will miss Vacation Bible School this year. It’s always a highlight. We also have a group heading out to the Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference. I am grateful to be serving a church who invests time, energy and money in the spiritual development of our children and youth. I love the ways that mission and spiritual nurture often come together. I want to thank the many, many volunteers that make it all possible. Looking way ahead, we are planning our next Guatemala Mission trip next January. There will be some informational sessions in July. See the Krier for details. I hope you will come and find out more about this opportunity.

The Long Range Planning Committee continues to work hard in developing the goals for you to consider. Please check out the website and make comments on specific goals. One of the important aspects of Long Range Planning is the conversation held among members as we share our dreams for the future. In some ways, that is as important as the product of choosing the final goals. I hope as you consider goals for the future you will keep this in mind: the main goal of the process is to discern God’s dream for the Kirk. This involves prayer and holy conversation. I continue to have in mind that phrase I shared with you earlier this year: “Christ’s Church has a mission but does Christ’s mission have a church.” The reason we exist is to carry on the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. The specifics are about where we sense Christ leading us to go in the years ahead.

I would enjoy hearing from you where you sense Christ is leading us.

Enjoying our ministry together,

Jody