MonthlyNewsletter - Pfafftown Baptist Church

From My Heart to Yours

A few years ago I preached a sermon on the symbols of our faith. Traditionally such symbols have included the cross, a cup, a fish symbol, and others. Using some imagery from Annie Dillard, I suggested at the time that modern symbols ought to include a seat belt, a hard hat, and the occasional barf bag. Now more than ever Pfafftown Baptist needs these modern symbols. Perhaps you were at the most recent church conference. The 2012 budget was presented and some serious reductions were presented, including another staff reduction. I say “another” because it is not the first of late. Not long after I began ministry at Pfafftown Baptist I was informed that the previous fulltime position once filled for youth ministry would not be filled. Although a person was not cut, a position was. It is cause for serious thought and reflection any time a position is cut in a church. Now is a time for serious thought and reflection again. Whether or not you were at the meeting, perhaps you picked up a copy of the budget in the foyer of the sanctuary. If you scanned the document closely, and thought about it carefully, you noticed that no ministry at Pfafftown will have sufficient funds in 2012 to effectively reach its goals. Further, there are many basic needs of our church that are not even addressed by the budget for lack of funds. Hear me clearly: I am not trying in the least to guilt anyone into giving; I am simply trying to open the eyes of the majority. Recently the a few deacons traveled with me to Hickory on a Saturday morning to hear Eddie Hammett present some harsh truth for all deacons. Eddie is a friend, but also a rock star among churches serious about the future. The deacons present hear truth rarely spoken, but always needed. What the deacons heard would have shocked most people in church, but the future will be a shocking experience for most churches. In the classic movie “Chinatown” starring Jack Nicholson says, “In the land of the blind the man with one eye is king.” I do not profess to be king, but when considering the issues facing Pfafftown Baptist and the changes required to even reach the near future I think I may have the only eye in town. And what I see and what I know is that the future will be brief if we are not willing to don our seat belts and hard hats and keep our barf bags handy. Or, as Norman Jameson asked recently in my absence, will we live with one arm or die with two?

Did you read this article? Love it? Hate it? Agree? Disagree? I would love to hear from you, and hear your thoughts. I had my say; what is yours?

Make a Joyful Noise

It's now been over 10 years since I began doing music ministry at Pfafftown. It's strange for a couple of reasons.

1. When I first started, I was aware that my predecessor had been here over 10 years, and I found this incomprehensible. Not that I planned on staying fewer than 10 years, but I'd never before been in the same church as a pianist or music minister for more than 3 and a half years.

2. It doesn't really seem that long. 10 years have come. I can't say much has changed. I went from being a 26 year old who was already bald, to a 36 year old who is not much more bald.

In 10 years, I've seen 4 different men assume the role of Pastor (whether permanent or interim), three youth ministers, one children's minister, one associate pastor, and dozens of different faces in choir, handbells and praise band. I've seen members leave and new members join. I've thankfully spent only my first six months without a pianist, and Sharon has been with us ever since.

I really see the marks of my tenure every year we celebrate a graduation Sunday, when I see how the youth entering adulthood look now, when I remember them as elementary school children.

Some things never change. Varner and Sarah are still cleaning the church. Helen is still keeping the church running in ways you haven't seen. Lori is still at the organ. They were all here decades before me and still serve you faithfully. Carolyn and April are still ministering to children on Wednesdays through singing, ringing and prayer. More than half the current choir members were choir members when I got here.

The problem with things that don't change - it's easy to take them for granted. Parents with children might forget the great but, unfortunately, underrated program we have Wednesday nights at Pfafftown. Youth and adults, you may forget that handbells and choir are not held behind closed, locked doors. Praise Band is new since I arrived, and it is not closed either.

We are indeed open for ministry in every category. So, for my 10-year virtual toast: Here's to praising the wonderful things that never change, and embracing the positive changes that are needed for life!

In Christ,

David

Christian Sympathy to:

Larry Alexander, death of brother,

Mildred Mathis, death of Barney,

Peggy Kiger, death of sister

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

2 Paula Baity

3 Cody Pero

5 Jerrie Tickle

7 Betty Wilson

8 Carolyn Bauguess, Judy Hemric, Lori Jones, Joyce McGee

9 Brittany Bridges, Tori Dameron

13 Melba Dameron

14 Daniel Royall

15 Landon Jones, Jim Tickle

17 Patti Manuel, Kalin Rierson

18 Kim Bounds

21 Jon Tickle

22 Charles McAninch

23 Kelly P. Allen Kenny Jones

25 Rita Hoilman, Halley Sizemore, Mildred Wiesener

27 Steve Batchelor

30 Samantha Quave