Appleseed Ponderings – January 2025

Holidays are wonderful when they are full of family, friends, good food, good times, and overflowing with joy.

But when there are dark clouds, anxieties, losses, water leaks, illnesses, heat that doesn’t work, varied experiences of the first big-ish snow in a while, well… they can be long. Praise be that God-is-with-us always and everywhere, in the midst of every circumstance and event: in us, and in all Creation.

AND, weren’t our worship times wonderful during Advent and Christmastide! Thanks to all who made it so! In addition, we had fun with a Carol Sing-along and a joyful telling of the coming of Jesus by our youth and children in “We Knead a Little Christmas.”
We dedicated Christmas Eve offerings to mission again this year and even so, generosity helped to reduce our anticipated operating shortfall for 2024 to approximately $30,000. We had some savings to apply to balance out the year.

But now, we hope generosity in 2025 will expand to fill that gap from hope to reality with appreciation for all the ministry and mission being poured into people, neighborhood, and the world around us for love of the Lord!

In mid-January, the “administry” teams of pastor, staff, and lay leadership in the church invested a Saturday morning for devotions, a team-building exercise, learning who we are as United Methodists and our structure, practical tips for making the work of the church smoother, and mutual support. We ended by uniting in spirit to share communion — just as we plan to work together in the coming year.

On the next Sunday we met, January 26, the Church Council officers were commissioned for specific service. They, and those changing roles or stepping away for family needs, were appreciated with words and a celebration after service with CAKE.

One of the items developed for the resource packages given to folks above is a list of the teams with leaders and team members, which includes other ministries beyond the operations groups. You can also find it under the “Resources” tab on our website. We are thrilled to know that the Trustees elected Julie Peterson as Chair this year, and that Carol Moore has said, “yes” to serving as the Chair of the CDC Advisory Board.

The pace of our youth will tire you out! Many were involved in major musical and theatrical roles in school and community plays over the holidays. The challenge to read through the Bible in in a year is ongoing and wow! How many of us, as adults, make such a committed journey in a year? There’s the Ignite Rock Convocation in Ocean City, snow tubing, Vacation Bible School planning, Eggstravaganza, Lent, Easter sunrise service and (for the first time in years) Confirmation. This latter is a source of much joy! Those who choose to be confirmed will become full members of Community UMC on Easter during our celebration of the Risen Christ and their new life in Him. Hallelujah!

Fellow followers of Jesus, may God’s love cover, surround, undergird, and propel you into the world where we live, but of which we are not a permanent part, to be the scattered church of Jesus Christ, declaring through Word and deed, that Christ is risen, indeed!

Blessings,
Barb Julian, Lay Leader