Pastor's Letter
Once again we come to a time of new beginnings! Soon our children and youth will be heading back to school and we will settle into our fall schedule. On Sunday, September 5, we welcome everyone back from summer vacations at our 9:00 AM worship service. On Sunday, September 12, we will kick off our Church School for all ages at 10:10 AM. Now is the time to remember our mission statement…
Salem’s Mission is to GROW disciples of Jesus Christ through
God-rooted living
Relationships nurtured within and beyond the congregation
Outreach which empowers people in need
Worship that is welcoming and Spirit-filled
In response to our call to discipleship, there will be many opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry at Salem UMC. In September we will offer…
· Rally Day - September 12… Church School for all ages, including a new Senior High Class taught by
Steve Broege. Cory Buxengard will teach the Jr. High Class in September.
· Choir Practice - Thursdays at 7:30 pm on September 9, 16, 23 with the Choir singing in worship on
September 12 and 19
· Confirmation Orientation - Sept. 19 at 11:00 am
· Fall Faith Retreat - September 24-25
· Family Fall Fest - October 2 from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm for the church and community…Come & invite
your family and friends!
All of these ministries have a common component for our community, and that is the gift of hospitality. Hebrews 13:1 says, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
I invite every member to recommit your life to Christ and his church. Every member of the body is important, unique, called, blessed, equipped and sent to be the body of Christ in our world today. It is in gathering, hearing the Word of God, singing the songs of faith, and praying together that we are fed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Our gathering puts a human face, a gentle touch, a listening ear, a teaching moment, an inspiring witness of fellowship into our lives and fills us for service. We cannot give what we do not have, and so we come to receive grace from Jesus Christ so that we can carry out our mission in his power and to his glory.
Let us come to worship, believing that Christ is waiting for us here with a Word for us that will enrich and ignite a fire in our lives. Christ’s own Spirit will fit us for service, leadership, acts of compassion, and deepening faith.
I invite you to read the Word, know the Word, speak the Word, love the Word, and share the Word, so that we might grow in our faith and ministry.
Under the Mission Tree,
Pastor Linda
