From the Pastor’s Study

A MESSAGE TO OAK RIDGE UMC FAMILY AND FRIENDS

We are instructed in Galatians 6:9,10 “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all people, especially those who are of the household of faith.”

I am inspired by and thankful for the year-round ministry and mission outreach of the people called Oak Ridge United Methodist Church!  You are a people who have openly received the grace and love of God AND you certainly know how to share this love and grace with others – both within the congregation and out into the community.  Who says summer is a “down time” with little going on at church?  Below I share with you just a small portion, just a sampling, of the ORUMC God-honoring, vision-driven ministries and missions happening this summer:

I had the incredible opportunity and experience of traveling with our youth and several adults (twenty-one in all) on a Youth Mission Trip to Guatemala from June 20^th – June 30^th.  We applied stucco to an entire church building (inside and outside), worshiped with the beautiful people of Guatemala, and ministered to and with the Guatemalan children – 350 showed up on our final day and every one of these children received a picture of themselves!  This is something they had never received before.  For 10 days we traveled, worked, served, ate, worshiped and laughed and ached together!  I am so proud of our youth.  During the entire trip they, as well as all our team members, represented Jesus Christ in a very positive manner.  I pray we were a blessing to our new Guatemalan friends.  I know they were such a blessing to all of us.  Their Christian hospitality and acceptance both inspires and humbles the recipients!

Of course, while our Mission Team was in Guatemala, VBS was happening at Oak Ridge UMC.  What an awesome ministry and outreach to our entire community!  Thanks to all the workers and students who made our 2008 VBS so successful!  Dana Hanlon reports that 410 were enrolled for VBS – which included 120 Weekday School children in the morning, 215 evening children, and an additional 75 volunteers.  Our Parish Nurses even set up a VBS Nurse Station each evening.

Also going on this summer at ORUMC, our recently appointed Branding Committee has been hard at work to come up with a new church logo, etc. that more adequately and faithfully portrays our vision, reputation, and future.  After getting much input from various groups and congregants they have put together, I think, a wonderful possibility for our church.  Come and see the “unveiling” of this logo during the first portion of our Church Council meeting, at 7pm on Tuesday, July 29^th.  The Branding Committee will make a special presentation at this time.