'The Inspirer' - Article #2 @ St. Paris (Newsletter - August 2009)

A Message from Pastor Dave

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
– Isaiah 43:9

The unchanging message of God’s love through the gospel of Jesus Christ extends back to ancient Israel. But it seems in every age the Lord is always doing a new thing to get that message out to people in a weary and hurting world.

In these early years of the 21st Century, there’s no doubt God is leading us to use new “wineskins” such as the Internet – not only to strengthen our own faith communities – but also to share the hope of Christ with those who are aching for something real in their lives. In the digital age, instant online communication is possible no matter where we are, and that’s a gift from God that can be used in healthy ways for His Kingdom.

Along those lines, here are some technology tidbits for thought:

Web Site: Our church needs a home on the Internet, and I am looking for a person – or maybe even a team of persons – who might be interested in developing and maintaining a web presence for Saint Paris United Methodist Church. This is essential if we want to display radical hospitality to those who are thinking about giving church a try. Younger adults, in particular, are far more likely to get online and see what they can find out about a congregation before ever setting foot inside the door. We need to get our “online welcome mat” out there, along with information about our congregation and how we go about “sharing the Love of Jesus Christ in the Community.” Is God calling you to this form of service? If you love the Lord and enjoy working with computers, this could be right up your alley! Think about it, pray about it, and if God is leading you in this direction, please let me know!

E-mail: Please consider sharing your e-mail address with me. I am compiling a church e-mail group listing that now has 30-plus participants and is being used for prayer chain items. I’d like to expand the use of this list beyond prayer requests to include other news, information, and inspirational items that may be helpful within our church family. (Participants are always free to opt out of the list!) If you’d like to be included, just send your e-mail address to me at dekepple@gmail.com

Pastor’s Blog(s): Last month I started developing a web log or “blog” as they are more commonly known. I’m calling it “Communion Railings,” and you can find it by going to: http://dekepple.blogspot.com

On the blog, you’ll find text versions of all the sermons I’ve preached in Saint Paris, newsletter articles (like this one!) for The Inspirer, and other occasional musings I feel inspired to “blog” about. You can also find my “blog roll” – which connects to various blogs I am following, plus some other useful links. I hope you’ll check “Communion Railings” out.

As a matter of fact, I enjoyed developing that blog so much I decided to start another one – just for fun -- where I am collecting some favorite (and occasionally off-beat) quotations. It’s called “Gently-Used Quotes,” and you can find it at:
http://gently-usedquotes.blogspot.com/


Facebook: Yeh, I’m on that, too -->

http://www.facebook.com/dekepple

This “social networking site” has become a favorite place for all kinds of things, from posting the latest photos of our grandchildren, to commenting on the amazing turn-out for our Community VBS, and for keeping up with family and friends in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Then, too, this is where I sometimes reflect on the ups and downs – mostly downs – of being a Cincinnati Bengals fan.

I also believe Facebook could be a helpful tool in sermon preparation, as I may invite your comments and questions regarding upcoming sermon themes. (One large-church pastor did this recently and soon had 50 comments to sort through!)


Twitter: You betcha! You can “follow” me at:

http://twitter.com/dekepple

. . . Truth be told, I haven’t done much “tweeting” yet. But I’m ready should the need arise!
In the meantime, Twitter has been great for following my granddaughter’s traveling softball team as they compete in various tournaments!

Hey, I’ll see you in church – and perhaps in cyberspace.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Dave

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

'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!