20 May 2021
Greetings to each of my fellow Yorkshirians!
I hope that this day finds each of you well! Spring is really flying along and momentum at Yorkshire continues to grow. I have looked at my calendar many times this week to verify that next weekend is really Memorial Day. How can it be? But, officially or unofficially, Memorial Day brings a change of season with it. We move from activities that we align with springtime to activities that are “summertime” based. We will take this opportunity to launch some new initiatives at Yorkshire, as well.
I am very excited about the new Education Programming that will be starting on June 6th, which we discussed last week. I am looking forward to meeting with our team later today (May 20) to meet with our Education Team leaders and teachers. Stepping up to teach in the church is a noble endeavor. The Gospel of Matthew shares the words of Jesus where he is giving his disciples instructions on what they are to do to carry on his mission. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV, emphasis mine). One of our basic responsibilities as the church is to teach. I believe it is also one of our most important roles. It has to be a core competency. As we move forward, we will need more teachers to accept this important role in our church.
Another part of our church that is moving forward is our Missions efforts. You will see in this week’s announcements a meeting that will be occurring on Tuesday, June 8th at 6:30 for all folks interested our new Missions efforts to meet another of Jesus’s last instructions to his disciples. “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, emphasis mine). During this discussion we will explore opportunities to engage our church in the support of local and overseas missionaries, become more involved in inner-city outreach, and look at our current outreach programs to expand them and gain more involvement through improved communications and education about just what it is that fellowship-Yorkshire does!
So, some great things happening! Communication for these things is important and that is my responsibility. But involvement is the only way that the things that we communicate can happen – and that, is your responsibility. But this is not a plea or a begging endeavor to get folks to do more. It is simply what happens when a church is alive- not because of expectation, but because of desire. It’s something that is really cool that God does in His church when we are a church that prays together, fellowships together (both in person and on- line as situation permits), communes together, and cares for one another. (Take a look at Acts 2:42-47).
Here is something to put on your calendars and all of your friends and neighbors’ calendars as well. On Friday, July 30th, Yorkshire will be hosting an outdoor concert event with our good friend Matt Baird’s band, Spoken. As you know, Matt Baird has led our Sunday morning worship twice over the past year, and each time, the feedback that you provided was very positive. A few weeks ago, he threw out an idea for a parking lot event to draw folks to our church environment. I shared this with the Sunday School fellowship and your response was a resounding, “we need to do this!” As a result, (I heard your voices loud and clear) we are doing it! You will be getting a great deal more information on this, but it will include food trucks (thanks Rachel Fry!), and an additional local artist who will perform prior to Spoken. It will truly be a great night of outdoor food, fun, and fellowship at Yorkshire Church!
By the time that I write this communication next week, we will have a new Custodian on staff-praise God! Finalizing some details today and tomorrow, but as long as everything goes well, we’ll have a new team member at Yorkshire! We continue to search for Preschool Teachers and Teacher Aides, though. If you know anyone that may be interested, please share this opportunity with them. Our enrollment continues to grow! Our preschool programming is so incredible. Our students are enjoying a VBS-type experience every single day at Joyful Noise. They are learning life skills, inter-personal skills, and best of all, they are hearing Bible stories and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Church happens every day at Joyful Noise Christian Preschool, so we are in prayer that God provides Christ-minded staff to support our ministry! I trust that He will provide but as in all things, it may be through you that He answers our prayers! The Bible is full of stories where God uses His church to provide for the needs of the people- either directly or indirectly. That thought that is hiding in the back of your mind, that person that you are thinking about, could be an answer to Director Julie Mann’s prayers! I’m not going to say that she is “stressed” about the recruiting process, but…(don’t tell her I said this),
I think she might be getting stressed about the recruiting process. Let’s help Julie not be stressed!
Well, that’s about it for today, I probably should get to work! We have some awesome things happening at our church this day as the Joyful Noise students will be performing their graduation celebration and getting their diplomas. Our sanctuary will be filled with the joy of the students and their families (Thursday, May 20).
I hope that you have a great day and are enjoying some of this weather.
Peace and Blessings to each of you!
-pastor dave.
dkominsky@susumc.org
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