Paul reminds us in his second letter to the people of Corinth: “You show that you are a letter from Christ . . . written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” You are a letter of Christ to the world through your financial investment in the mission and ministry of HPCUMC.
As we prepare to make our 2022 commitments, I write to thank you for your generosity in 2021. Because you gave:
• The Senior Adult Ministry continues to reach out to church members. Phone calls, emails, and the U.S. Mail offer encouragement, support and hope. Volunteers have delivered groceries to people’s homes, hot meals from restaurants delivered, gifts of flowers and candy express Christ’s love.
• The 8:00 worship service has resumed, featuring weekly communion and the Wesley Choir.
• In-person worship resumed, and on-line worship continues to be enhanced. The number of people joining us on-line continues to grow.
• Stephen Ministers offer Christ’s love through quality one on one care.
• Our Preschool held their annual Summer FUN Camp with 128 children ages 3-5 participating. As a “5 Star Step Up to Quality” Preschool (the highest award) we offer a quality, in-person educational experience.
• The United Methodist Women serve our community in God’s love and grace.
• The Warehouse offered the OTR community 3 different outdoor events in Washington Park, touching the lives of over 1,000 people. 193 people worship on-line, and in-person worship continues to attract new families/individuals weekly.
• Super Serve Saturday offers tangible support to our Community Ministry Partners through intergenerational teams of people. The Summer Camp Reading Program embraced children in OTR, improving reading skills.
• Support for our Global Mission Partners offers hope and assurance as they navigate the pandemic.
• The Organ Concert Series continues to bless the community. This year we live-streamed the concert for the first time.
• 26 people attended Family Camp.
• In-person Children’s Sunday School resumed in August; Children’s Choir resumed in September; New this fall a Youth Choir has formed.
I look forward to Commitment Sunday, October 24, when alongside you Cathy and I will make our 2022 commitment, investing in the mission and ministry of HPCUMC! Cathy and I pray with you for God’s guidance as you make your decision to invest in the ministry of Jesus Christ through HPCUMC; “You show that you are a letter from Christ . . . written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” I look forward to seeing you in church.
Through Christ,
Pastor Doug