May always feels like the calm between two storms for me. Easter is over, and we have a little room to relax before the annual conference at the end of the month. This year's Annual Con-ference returns to being an entirely in-person experience. For those unfamiliar, Annual Conference is an integral part of the leadership and governance structure of the United Methodist Church. Pastors and lay representatives from the Baltimore-Washington Conference gather to worship, fellowship, and vote on important matters, like the budget, electing delegates to higher-level confer-ences, and approving the new clergy ordination. We also vote and debate topics that affect the church's life locally and connectionally. Some years it's very serious and challenging, and others not. Recent years have been primarily virtual events, but now we have returned to the banquet hall of a hotel in Baltimore. Past years have also seen some challenges and controversies that remain. Please pray for those of us attending as representatives of Taylorsville and all other churches.
We have also started to make some big decisions at Taylorsville. Recently the Church Coun-cil has decided to purchase a new piano for the sanctuary. Several donors have already stepped up to help finance the purchase. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. May this investment in the music ministry of our church make a joyful sound for many years. And special thanks to all who are giving to this need.
We also are thinking about starting up two committees for the church. We seek individuals who want to reform the Evangelism and Outreach committee. Don't let Evangelism scare you off; it is not about going door to door. Evangelism and outreach are about telling the story of God and reaching out in goodwill to the communities around us. If that interests you, please let me know, and we can put together an interest group.
I'm also looking to start a fundraising task force. The church must be creative with its fund-raising goals to support our future ministry needs. Let me know if you would like to help plan innovative and exciting fundraising events, and we can start forming a team.
Lastly, I plan to create a new member/refresher member class for later this summer or early fall. Let me know if you would like to learn more about the UMC. We will cover church structure, beliefs, and history. For some, that may lead to an interest in formal membership in Taylorsville UMC; for others, it's an opportunity to learn and grow more in their faith.
We have some ambitious plans and visions for Taylorsville Church, and I want to invite you all to help us make those ambitions a reality. Let's water the seed that God has planted here together.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Pastor Josh
