General Presbyter Report

Stated Meeting, 02/02/08
Cass Shaw's report outlining some of the ways we are challenged by this changing world, and some ideas and questions about how we can meet these challenges.

In the last few months several new conversations have begun among leaders of our Presbytery. We have understood for some time that the world is changing, that the church must as well… we have been working hard on transformation, redevelopment. But now there is a new sense of urgency and possibility. We have reached the tipping point, and know now that we can no longer maintain the status quo. To be honest, some of us are fed up with the status quo anyway! The Holy Spirit is creating a hunger within us that we can’t ignore.

Read the whole report here

Think God Can't Use You?

The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember:

Noah was a drunk;

Abraham was too old;

Isaac was a daydreamer;

Jacob was a liar;

Joseph was abused;

Moses stuttered;

Gideon was afraid;

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer;

Rahab was a prostitute;

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young;

David had an affair and was a murderer;

Elijah was suicidal;

Isaiah preached naked;

Jonah ran from God;

Naomi was a widow;

Job went bankrupt;

Peter denied Christ;

The Disciples fell asleep while praying;

Martha worried about everything;

The Samaritan woman was divorced –

more than once;

Zacchaeus was too small;

Paul was too religious;

Timothy had an ulcer;

And Lazarus was dead!

So, no more excuses. God can use you to your full potential. Besides, you aren’t the message, you’re just the messenger!!

Thanks to Don McLeod.

Search Committee Reaches Consensus

Group Hold Final Meeting:

Sunday, February 3, 2008; The Session/Search Committee of the United Church met to conduct the final meeting for the interim pastor position. Seven people were in attendance and spent close to 3 hours discussing the results of the second round of interviews that concluded on Friday, February 1, 2008. The final two candidates, their interviews, and what we see as our collective future shaped the discussion. The Committee took great care to talk about the direction of the church and recognized deeply that whoever is the final choice, we as a church, will have excellent spiritual leadership.

Now that this phase is complete, The committee will make its recommendation and the process moves to Presbytery. Their Committee on Ministry will conduct a separate interview, probably at their next meeting, February 13th. Their recommendation moves to the next meeting of the Albany Presbytery for final confirmation. That meeting is April 8th. These meetings provide an additional layer of over-site and consideration using presbytery's extensive information network. Here at home, the Personnel Committee will meet to construct the details of the financial package and other elements akin to the hiring process. A firm start date has not, as yet, been established, but should come together quickly.

The Session/Search Committee thanks the congregation for all for their prayers, patients and support. We continue to work for the greater good and want to express our gratitude to all. Your prayers are working and have buoyed each of us as only prayers can.

May God bless you and our mission together.

Committee Members: Joan Lapham, Sandy Quinn, Helen Ruddock, Christopher Fitz, Mary LeBarron, Claudia Lundberg, Jeffrey Wright-Sedam.