♦ DRY THANKSGIVING AND GIVING AND GIVING This Thanksgiving we were with family in Williamsburg, VA. The United Methodist Church there invited folks from the congregation and community (200 showed up...all ages) to gather Thanksgiving morning to prepare hot meals to be distributed throughout the community and to prepare dry meals - 380 gram meals of rice, dried vegetables and vitamins (Yes, we weighed every one of 6,000 bags.) to be distributed mostly to Haiti.

Many churches share food one way or another at Thanksgiving... and we enjoyed visiting and praying with the families to whom we took the hot meals that day... but, the 6,000 dry meals will keep giving and giving long after Thanksgiving day is over. This project, sponsored by "Stop Hunger Now," also got us (including kids) talking about why there is so much hunger in our world and communities. The woman working next to me weighing bags (She was a visitor to the church...she'll be back.) said one of her boys (about 9) who was also helping, had asked her, "Why are people hungry, when we have so much food?" Having that question in the "buzz" of 200 people on Thanksgiving morning was maybe the greatest cause for thanksgiving.

If your church is doing gifts or food this Christmas for the disadvantaged, make sure you create the opportunity for people to meet, talk and pray with each other, as it is appropriate, and also to ponder the question why some have so little and others so much...not just at Thanksgiving or Christmas, but year round, round the globe.

♦ PEAS AND PEWS The Open Table of Christ United Methodist Church in Rhode Island faced a dilemma as the need for more and more space for their food bank ministry (peas, etc.) increased in these tough economic times. As in most of our churches, the biggest, most accessible, least used space in their building was the sanctuary...filled with pews. Prayer and decision time!...not a bad time to ask, "What would Jesus do with the pews?"

Their decision was to take the back pews of the sanctuary out to make room for the shelves and shelves of the expanded food bank (lots of peas now). Don't worry, you can still sit in the back pew....it's just closer to the preacher...a win win!?!? The sanctuary is now fully sanctuary for the hungry in spirit and body....busy throughout the week. (Click Here for more details) How creative can you be with peas and pews?

♦ O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL....THEN WHAT? So what will happen to the new (or old) visitors that will come for Advent/Christmas services/activities at your church this year? If you don't already have a plan to follow-up, get one quickly. People who appear during this season are often curious seekers. If the laity and pastor do not show that they care, the seekers are not likely to come back.

Make sure your friendliest greeters are outside and inside the church. Have special Christmas packets of information prepared to give out with a festive welcome gift (Christmas cookies, bread, fruit). Follow up with a visit or at least a phone call early in the following week. Announce and advertise a special "New Year's "four week study or sermon series on a timely topic like "Spiritual Resolutions That Make a Difference," or "New Life in the New Year." (Those who were at Annual Conference will remember Adam Hamilton making similar suggestions.) Create opportunities and events in January that will make children, youth, and adults want to come back and be a part of your congregation. Put special signage out front of your church, send special mailings to your area, and best of all, invite your congregation to invite their friends knowing that Christmas is not the "end" of something great, but the "beginning" of an opportunity for a whole new life and year.

I remember reading as a young pastor, The congregation that does not plan for its future, is not likely to have one." What are your plans.....to be a part of God's plan.

♦ CROWS AND METHODISTS I am so inspired by the long history of faithfulness among Methodists here in New England. Last Sunday I shared in an anniversary service at Lee Memorial UMC in Norwich, CT. Even in the snow, they were out celebrating. In June 1790, Jesse Lee went to the house of Mrs. Thankful Pierce (don't you love that name) and they gathered a few more and then more, and over the years our movement in Norwich grew into eight Methodist congregations.

What was the secret (other than the Holy Spirit)? One of our pastors sent me this quote, "The circuit riders of the frontier days went everywhere. They rode through blizzards, snowstorms, and cloudbursts, prompting an old saying that at such times, 'nobody was out but crows and Methodist preachers.'" They were out and about.... everywhere.... no matter what the challenge. We need to be also, in our time...... the crows still are. And just a reminder, the "circuit riders" and "preachers" of that early day were both clergy and laity! We are partners in this grand ministry for the sake of Christ...born in Bethlehem.

Grace and Peace,

Pete