“A Community of Faith, Family and Friends”
Pastor: Rev.
Christopher Druce Jones
Dear Members and Friends
By now, many of you have received
the news that I have been appointed to serve another congregation beginning
June 1st. The name of the church is Southlawn United Methodist and
it is located in
policy.
The Book of Discipline states, “The itinerant system is the accepted
method of The
As part of my ordination process
back in 2000, I was asked two questions that relate to appointments and
itinerancy: Do you offer yourself to be
appointed by the bishop to a service ministry and are you willing to itinerate?
My response to both of those questions was “yes.”
The commitment I made to God and the
The Book of Discipline also states,
“Clergy shall be appointed by the bishop,
who is empowered to make and fix appointments in the Episcopal area of which
the annual conference is a part. Appointments are to be made with consideration
of the gifts and evidence of God’s grace of those appointed, to the needs, the
characteristics, and opportunities of congregations and institutions, and with
faithfulness to the commitment to open itinerancy. Open itinerancy means
appointments are made without regard to race, ethnic origin, gender, color,
disability, marital status, or age. The concept of itinerancy is important.
Through appointment-making, the connectional nature of the United Methodist
system is made visible.”
Pastors are appointed to congregations one year at a time. Yet, there are times when, for missional needs of the annual conference or other circumstances, a pastor must move before the year is completed. Such was and is the case with my appointment to Southlawn. There was a need in the annual conference for me to fill and my gifts and graces for ministry matched the needs of this particular congregation.
Members and friends, I believe God works through the bishop in utilizing the itinerant system effectively to help guide and meet the needs of churches, as well as to help pastors grow in professional development. In July 2003, I was appointed to serve as your pastor and you accepted and embraced me as your own with love and support. I believe God was in that process then and still is in this process today.
As I reflect on our journey
together, I can say with confidence that
Let us not forget our journey is not over. We still have work to do together. And I want to inspire and motivate you to continue the work of God with me in this community until our last day together.
I like the words of Charles Wesley
which he penned in 1762; “A charge to keep I have; a God to glorify;
a never dying soul to save and fit it for the sky. To serve the present age, my
calling to fulfill; O may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will.”
My prayer is that we continue to strive for excellence in all we do, giving God all the praise and glory for the great things he has done in us and through us.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Chris
Sermons for the Soul March 4
What are you Hungry For? Luke 8: 22-33 March 11
What Does it Mean? Numbers 6:24-26 March 18 What
Does it Mean? Numbers 6:24-26 March 25 What
Does it Mean? Numbers 6: 24-26
Easter Party
Come celebrate Easter with us
Saturday,
April 7th at
Crafts,
lunch, Easter egg hunt and a
telling of
the Easter story
Special Notes: Please bring your own basket for gathering
eggs.
Parents of small children
(under 8 years old) are requested to accompany their children to the
party. If the parents are unable to
accompany their children, it is requested that they provide a chaperone for
them.
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