First United Methodist Church of West Branch
2490 W State Road, West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: 989-345-0210
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This page was last updated: January 11, 2010
We have already celebrated the coming of the Christ Child and the New Year is close behind. It is fun to have celebrations that lift us out of ourselves and remind us that there is more than just the everyday routine. In times of celebration we move out of the ordinary and see more than the usual. Sometimes there are gaily colored packages and parades. Sometimes there are funny hats and noise makers. Celebrations usually have good food and great conversations with those we love and those we want to know better.
Out of the ordinary, comes something extraordinary. Near our McDonald’s a sign read something like, “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is a little extra.”
We have the year 2010 spreading before us when we can move our lives and our church beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary with just a little extra. I’m thinking it takes a little extra thought, a little extra care, a little extra effort, and a little extra prayer. Would you be willing to put forth a little extra to make this year extraordinary?
We have a mission statement that is printed every week in out bulletin. A mission statement is a proclamation to guide the work of the organization in specific directions. Ours begins “Our mission is to spread…” and ends with “the love of God.” Can you fill in the remaining 32 words that make up the mission statement of our church? Some of the statement you can figure out, such as “to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ…” and some of it is not as easy to remember, such as “through prayer and eager stewardship of our time, talents and facilities…” It ends with the statement, “we invite all to know and experience the love of Good.” Our mission statement guides our church to spread the gospel of Jesus and share the love of God.
In this new year we will use this mission statement to guide our work in the church. We will more closely focus our time, talents, gifts and service, using this mission statement , to move us from the ordinary to the extraordinary. It doesn’t take much effort to make a difference, just a focus on the mission of the church. What will you do to move from ordinary to extraordinary/, I know that I plan to work on my sermons with greater intensity so that they will have more impact. Working with a little extra effort on my sermon preparation is one thing that I can do in 2010 to move my preaching from ordinary to extraordinary. The new year is fast approaching. Is there something you can do to add “a little extra” to move from the ordinary to extraordinary?
Many of you are beginning new roles in the church. Some are taking on leadership for the first time and some of you are continuing. Some are relinquishing long held positions and finding new ways to use your talents. God is making all thing new and helping all to find their place in the body of Christ. As we move into this new year let us that time to pray that God will fill us with the Holy Spirit and direct our paths in extraordinary ways.
Blessings, Rev. Lisa CookHappy New Year
