Pastor’s Report for September 2023

NURUTURE, OUTREACH AND WITNESS

  • I was unable to gather enough interest to host a Disciple 1 Bible study. A Disciple 1 group needs to have at least six to eight participants. We’ll try again next year.
  • We were pleasantly surprised to welcome over 50 people to our ice cream social on September 3rd.
  • The Kelsey Classics hosted their first event on September 16. It was “painting and potluck.”
  • I began meeting with a small group of young adults to connect, pray and discuss Christian faith. We meet every Saturday (we’re figuring out the best time) at the parsonage.
  • The church office will be open every Tuesday, 10:30am-11:30ish. Our hope is this will be an important time for fellowship and prayer. Coffee will be available.
  • I have prepared a sermon series that utilizes the book “Lasting Impact.” I’m hopeful the book, the sermons, the online Bible studies and everyone’s reading will help us have serious conversation about what future growth at our church can be. The series begins Sunday, October 1st and lasts seven weeks. We will pause the series for All Saints Sunday.
  • Pam Martinez has scheduled a Trunk or Treat. The event will take place in the church parking lot on Sunday, October 22, 4-6pm. So far, there are about twenty trunks signed up.
  • The choir is planning to make t-shirts.
  • I am prepared to host a weekly Bible Stories at Bedtime for our Kelsey Kids. It will be online, via our Facebook page, and begin Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:30pm.
  • The United Methodist Men are preparing to host a Waffles with Santa event on Saturday, November 4th, 9am-12. The event will take place in the Education Building.
  • Here is a breakdown of the average worship attendance for our Sunday morning gatherings: January, 74; February, 84; March, 89; April, 79; May, 74; June, 84; July, 87; August, 74; September 87. The average for the last quarter is 83 and our YTD is 81.

MINISTRY INFORMATION

I cannot thank everyone enough for the outpouring of love and support my family and I received over the last several months. The conference made it possible to financially support an interim pastor, our friend and brother Tom Tarver. Our church leaders handled several ministry matters during that time as well. And our congregation continued to support one another. By all accounts, it will take some time for me to return to feeling 100%. You can trust I am mindful of what I can and cannot do. So, whatever you see me doing for the next year, please know I’ve given it much prayer and reflection. As such, I wouldn’t be doing it if I couldn’t.

Eight members of our church council have registered to participate in Leadership Institute 2023, September 27-29. We paid for them to participate online. In addition to their live access, they’ll have six months on-demand replay available to view all the material from the conference.

Our charge conference is scheduled for Saturday, November 4th. The conference will be at Wesley UMC in Corpus Christi, 11am to noon. I’ll be preparing most of the necessary paperwork. There are forms other leaders should complete as well.

I am a part of the Coastal Bend District Strategy Team. This is our team charged with leading our district. At our last meeting, we discussed how to help churches struggling through the disaffiliation process. In short, there are churches in financial strains directly caused by disaffiliation. We agreed to provide funds for such churches. These funds allow them to work with Karen Horan, our conference Director of Creating/Vitalizing Congregations and Developing Leaders. Their work will teach them to think like a “church start.” They’ll learn how to connect with their communities. The team also discussed future endeavors related to teaching all congregations how to create supplemental income streams to ensure ministry funding in the future.

Finally, you should notice from me a focus on Christian hospitality. I remain convinced a congregation like ours does well to commit itself to the attitude, spirit and best practices of hospitality. Such a commitment takes us beyond superficial expectations. It also allows us to connect with those God brings to us in worship and outreach. At the same time, we can learn how to reconnect with those in our congregation who are not as active.

Thank you for helping making Kelsey known as a loving church so God can be known as a loving God. In all we do, may we give God all the glory!

Blessed Beyond Belief,

Reverend John Fletcher