News about New Faces here at Burke UMC:
Last Saturday evening we
gave thanks and blessings to Kishore
Carey, our LifeSign Music Director.
Kishore has served in this capacity for the last year or so, but in
recent months he’s found his plate filling up rapidly with work, other ministries,
family obligations, and some personal dreams as well. Kishore felt it was time for him to step away
to pursue these other callings, plus carve out some Sabbath for himself in his very
full schedule. We thanked him with a gift, prayers, and a potluck supper, and
we continue to pray God’s blessings upon him in the days ahead. Thank you,
Kishore!
Stepping into this role as
Interim Music Director will be Tommy Webster. Tommy is a gifted keyboardist and
contemporary worship leader currently employed as the Director of Music at St.
George’s UMC on Ox Road. (He also happens to be the husband of Katie Webster,
our Director of Christian Education.) Tommy’s influences will undoubtedly bring
a new approach to the LifeSign service, so whether or not you’ve attended a
LifeSign service before, come check it out soon. We worship at 5:00 pm Saturdays.
If you have children in
our nursery, you’ll soon see some new faces to replace long-time assistants Shelly Neely and Harriett Dershewitz. We
thank them and bless them for their years of faithful service, and we likewise pray
God’s blessings upon Shelly and Harriett in their new ventures. We have already welcomed the delightful Lisa Poppalardo into the nursery staff
rotation, and undoubtedly you’ll meet others. We’ve been emphasizing excellence
in hospitality, love and safety for our littlest ones, and that emphasis will
continue!
A soon-to-be-familiar face
will be Francine Ronis. Francine is a
Licensed Professional Counselor with the Center for Pastoral Counseling (CP) in
Northern Virginia. She will be a monthly
presenter at every Third Thursday Dinner & Program that begins this month. Francine
will focus each month on some aspect of family life that will be applicable for
families of every sort and age. On
October 18 she’ll explore how the concept of Emotional Intelligence can improve
love and communication within your family. You’ll enjoy Francine’s spirit and
approach a great deal.
In my devotional reading
this morning I re-read Paul’s brief autobiography in Galatians 1-2. He states there that God … had set me apart before I was born and called me through his
grace, [and] was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him….
(Gal. 1:15-16) Paul found an amazing
sense of ‘rightness’ when he began doing what he believed God had put him on
this earth to do. In the same way, when you and I are living God’s dream for our
life, it’s a strengthening, joyous feeling that evokes our gratitude for
life. I had that conviction this morning
in prayer about my life. I hope you do
too.
If you don’t, Burke UMC
can help you name your gifts and discern God’s guidance in your life. Please
feel free to call me or Pastor Morgan – or anyone on our staff – and it will be
our joy to listen with you for God’s true claim upon your life.
With love,
Pastor Larry
No comments:
Post a Comment