"Welcome to my little part of the Church of the Palms website. This is what I refer to as "Pastor Pete's Particulars." Here I will share little thoughts, ideas, observations, and reflections that I think might be of interest to others - or at least I hope will be of interest. Just remember these thoughts are mine and mine alone, and should not be assumed to necessarily reflect the position of Church of the Palms. And if you have topics or subjects you would like me to speak to, just let me know by emailing me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. If I have something to say, I just might post it here! So check back often."
Grace and peace,
Pastor Pete
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cell: 843-694-7447
Checkup!
Friday, 27 January 2012 09:29
Just like going to your physician for your annual physical and checkup, the church’s health status is monitored by a series of measurements and statistics. Each year every church in the United Methodist connection submits their information. The measurements don’t tell the whole story of course, just like your lab results don’t tell your doctor exactly how you are really doing. Nonetheless the numbers need to be seriously considered.
Here are some of the key measurements of the health of Church of the Palms for the year 2011, as recently submitted by special request of the bishop:
Number of persons baptized this year (of all ages) 12
Persons received into member by profession of faith: 8
Total professing members: 148
Average attendance at all weekly worship services: 100
Total participation in small group opportunities: 119
-Children 10
-Youth 3
-Young Adults 0
-Other Adults 106
Number of persons sent out on mission teams: 42
Amount of money spent on missions including apportionments $39,907
-Annual Operating Budget $ 10,000
-Apportionments 20,862
-Asking and District 323
-Non Apportioned (District) 2,395
-Designated Mission Gifts 6,327
So what do these numbers tell us – me? On the surface some are positive and some not so. For example, the 106 adults engaged in small groups (one or more) is very positive given our membership is 148. The low numbers of youth and young adults is very much of concern.
Baptisms and more so, professions of faith, provide a measure of how we are doing in accomplishing our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Eight professions of faith in 2011 are not bad, since some church don’t achieve any. But this is an area that must gain our attention and energy as it is our mission!
An average worship attendance of 100 for 2011 was surprising, and I found it a little discouraging. Worship is the heartbeat of the church, and so this measurement is one that really caught my attention.
On the other hand, the total amount money spent on missions was positive. Not only did Church of the Palms faithfully keep our commitment to our connectional giving (apportionments), extra funds flowed out of the blessings God has given us to other places and other causes to impact lives in a meaningful way.
I found these annual “check-up” numbers of interest and wanted to share them with you. I think there is much, much more to discuss as a result of these figures and the stories that lie behind each one of them. These numbers report on the 10th year of Church of the Palms since it was chartered. It would be interesting and likely worthwhile to view these numbers against the historical trends since the founding of the church.
In any case, know that I would appreciate YOUR insight into these, and what you view as our priorities for what God is calling us to do. The 2012 Council started some of this work during their retreat last week, but we all know that it will take all of us lending into God’s future. Perhaps we can craft an opportunity to gather as interested disciples to discuss all this more deeply. In the meantime, please join me in continuing to hold Church of the Palms in your daily prayers!
Thrilled to be on this journey as your pastor!
Pete +
Reflection and Gratitude
Friday, 13 January 2012 09:58
Reflection and Gratitude - the key to personal happiness. This is the thesis of a personal project that a young woman named Hailey started in 2008. In the search for her own personal happiness she was encouraged to spend time each day in reflection and in gratitude. As a photographer one way she thought she might be disciplined to do this each and every day was to document her observations - her reflections and focus of gratitude - in a daily photograph that then became a journal.
Hailey chose to use a simple Polaroid camera but the results changed her. She learned to be much more aware of the little things in life, things that had slipped by her before she started this new way of looking at the world. Well, her efforts spread to others, to conversations about life and love and faith, and to stories from around the world.
Hailey's experience, in a wonderfully simple and unique way, resonates with my own desire, my own attempt to see all of life through the lens of faith. I seek to be aware, alert, awake to the small, simple, delightful way that God is at work for good in the world and in me (and you too!)
May you, too, experience the personal happiness when you pause in reflection and gratitude!
Pete+
ps. View part of Hailey's story in the video below.
Christmas Worship
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:21
"...For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.."
We are but hours away from gathering to proclaim and celebrate this truth – a promise made long ago by God, and fulfilled by God, in the gift of Jesus the Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. It is the ancient story of Christmas, a story that we look forward to each year. It is the story that captures our hearts and compels our lives. It is the story that affirms God's "Yes!" to humankind. It is the story that assures us that we need not fear. It is the story that reminds us that no matter how dark the nights of our lives might seem, we are never, ever, alone.
So on the eve of Christmas at 6:45 pm we will gather in the holy hush, in the beauty of the night, with friends and family, neighbors and newcomers, to experience again the awe and mystery of God's love. Slowly and quietly we will join our voices as together we sing some of our favorite Christmas carols. Then at 7:00 pm we will all join together to worship the God who showed us how much God loved us by coming to us as Jesus the Christ. And on this night – especially on this night - there will be no strangers.
On this night there will be gathered only humble worshippers, like the shepherds who came to the manger. We will hear again the wonderful story, be invited to the Lord's Table to receive bread and unfermented wine, to hear "given for you" and to receive Jesus and his abundant love. The music of "O Holy Night" by Karen Ayers and Candy Grose will prepare us for considering what life would have been had this night not occurred. Then we will welcome in the light of Christ as we sing "Silent Night" before proclaiming "Joy to the World."
Our celebration continues on Christmas Day at 10:30 am as we return to worship the newborn king. With the joy that is ours we will welcome the new day and each other. We will hear how this small child is truly God with us and how that changes everything. We will experience God's presence with us at the Lord's Table. We will hear Patty Smith remind us that God came to us as "One Small Child." And with new hope and new courage we will continue to proclaim joy to the world.
So whether you are by yourself this Christmas, or surrounded by family, whether you are far from home, close to home, or right at home, come experience the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christmas at Church of the Palms.
God's love, and mine!
Pete +
Lumilla
Tuesday, 01 November 2011 10:45
How appropriate on this All Saints' Day that Deidox has released their latest video "Lumilla" the story of a 82 year-old woman living in the Czech Republic. She calls us all to accountability by reminding us that we are all to be ambassadors of Christ. On the outside of her house she has placed this notice: "Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Another great job, Deidox team! Thank you! Thank you!
No doubt you have had one of those experiences where you stepped forward in faith, not knowing exactly what was going to happen. Perhaps you’ve had several of them. I pray that you have! But have you ever wondered how it is that you were actually able to do it? What gave you the courage, or confidence, or wild abandon that was likely necessary for you to move from your position of perceived comfort and safety, to start a journey that was less than predictable? It would be so interesting to share our stories and to hear the details.
Of course we are not the first people to experience the challenge of stepping into the water of an unknown future. We see it over and over in the grand stories in the Old Testament. Stories of people who took a “next” step and stepped into God’s promise of life anew – full, exciting, abundant, and maybe even unexpected. But step they did and in doing so they left us with a legacy and an example of living “leaning forward” into God’s next miracle. Such an example will be the focus of our time together this Sunday as we use Joshua 3:7-17 as our scriptural guide. We’ll read about people stepping into the water to become part of God’s story. It can also be our story. Maybe it already is!
We are but hours away from gathering to proclaim and celebrate this truth – a promise made long ago by God, and fulfilled by God, in the gift of Jesus the Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. It is the ancient story of Christmas, a story that we look forward to each year. It is the story that captures our hearts and compels our lives. It is the story that affirms God's "Yes!" to humankind. It is the story that assures us that we need not fear. It is the story that reminds us that no matter how dark the nights of our lives might seem, we are never, ever, alone.
No doubt you have had one of those experiences where you stepped forward in faith, not knowing exactly what was going to happen. Perhaps you’ve had several of them. I pray that you have! But have you ever wondered how it is that you were actually able to do it? What gave you the courage, or confidence, or wild abandon that was likely necessary for you to move from your position of perceived comfort and safety, to start a journey that was less than predictable? It would be so interesting to share our stories and to hear the details.