'The Inspirer' - Article #1 @ St. Paris (Newsletter - July 2009)

A Message from Pastor Dave

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord …
plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

I am so glad the month of July is finally upon us, and we now can begin our journey together as servants of Jesus Christ. It was way back on Feb. 28 when my former district superintendent called to tell me Bishop Ough wanted to appoint me as pastor of St. Paris United Methodist Church.
Since that day, my wife Janet and I have been very much living in two worlds. We have experienced the sadness of saying farewell to people at our former church who had become very dear to us over the last 10 years. At the same time, we have been looking forward with genuine excitement to making the move to Champaign County and becoming part of the community of believers here.
Throughout these hectic days and weeks, the people of St. Paris have never been far from my thoughts and prayers. We ached with all of you, in particular, as the town endured the tragic loss of those four children who died in the mobile home fire in March.
I know this is a time of mixed feelings for you, too, as you’ve had to say farewell to Pastor Doug and Julie Upton. Doug and Julie have been very kind and gracious, helping us prepare for our move. We also are grateful to Brian Case and the Trustees for their efforts to make the parsonage more accessible for Janet. That means so much.
As we begin, one of my priorities is simply getting to know you. I am eager to get acquainted with all of you, from the youngest baby to the oldest grandma. I’ll be looking for opportunities to visit with you, as well as meeting with various groups and ministry teams at the church.
I’m sure you can help me learn more about our community and our congregation’s history, and I also want to hear about your hopes and dreams for the future. (I’ve already been bragging to people about the church’s mission statement: “Sharing the love of Jesus Christ in the community.” What a beautiful vision for all of us to live into!)
My hope is you will feel comfortable keeping me informed of situations where care is needed, so I can respond in a timely fashion. In addition to the telephone numbers for the church and parsonage, you also can reach me on my cell phone (number deleted from post) or by e-mail.
I trust God has a plan for all of us, and I know Christ is already here, waiting to guide us into the future. I look forward to the exciting challenges and happy surprises awaiting us all on the journey.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Dave

P.S. -- Remember, God loves you & there's nothing you can do about it!