A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR…
“Ordinary Saints Day”
Here are three things to kick-start your weekend…
1. Wow! Last night’s Trunk or Treat event was amazing! I think our staff didn’t have any trouble getting to sleep last night, except for those that had tiny tots amped up on sugar. Thanks to all who made such a wonderful evening safe, fun, and memorable for our families. Our prayer will be that those who attended found our church to be a welcoming place and will visit us for worship soon.
2. All Saints is this Sunday. There are 18 Saints we will remember at our Traditions service at 9:00 a.m. They include the following persons: Billie Cochran, Peggy Pickel, Fred Pickens, Willerma “Bill” Hood, Ann Howell, Jenny Nance, William “Bill” Sheffield, Bonnie Kelly, Wayne Gasson, Darrell Sartin, Vickie Hartman, Laster Smith, Sybil James, Robert Dillard, Jim McDonald, Harry Andrews, Marjorie White, and Melanie Sprowles. There will also be a special All Saints recognition at the Connections Service at 11:00 a.m. Bishop Robert Barron once said, “Being a saint is the ordinary goal of the Christian life.” Let us give thanks for the ordinary lives of these saints who lived faithfully before us and whose memory we hold close.
3. The Mississippi Methodist Connection. Recently, our Ministry Council voted to become a founding member of the Mississippi Methodist Connection. What is the MMC? The MMC is a collaborative network designed for churches within the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition that seek to maintain a connection based on shared theology and mission.
The Ministry Council adopted a “Connection Agreement” that addresses the disaffiliation of several Mississippi churches from The United Methodist Church due to theological and missional misalignment. It emphasizes the importance of orthodox Wesleyan beliefs and the desire for mutual support and holy conferencing among member churches.
Importantly, the Mississippi Methodist Connection is not a denomination; it operates as a non-profit organization, allowing members to retain autonomy over their beliefs and practices while fostering collaboration and connection.
Our Doctrine and Affiliation Committee continues its work seeking to clarify our core doctrines and will soon begin exploring potential Wesleyan denominations to recommend to our Ministry Council. Joining the MMC does not affect the work of this committee. The most significant benefit at the moment is that it allows us to use our Methodist name. Meanwhile, the MMC holds the possibility to foster a new movement of the Holy Spirit and a fresh expression of Methodism in our state.
Hope to see you Sunday!
Jimmy
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