Good News, Slow News, Best News
GOOD NEWS
Preparation for Vacation Bible Camp is looking perfectly outdoorsy, just in time for summer and for the 200 children and 50 volunteers joining us next week.
Plans are humming along to host our Bishop and about 500 clergy for the first Clergy Session of the new Horizon Texas Annual Conference on June 8. Our Yardbirds and our Landscaping Team are beautifying our grounds, while a volunteer team inside is getting “our house” ready for company.
Kevin Clanahan, Jill Stoel, John Shell, Donna Gaskill, Tim Hopson, and I will represent FUMC Plano at the first full Horizon Texas Annual Conference that will meet at SMU that same week.
We received 7 more commitments for a total of 161 totaling $1,946,000 toward our $2,000,000 Free to Grow goal. We are 97% of the way there!
Over $40,000 came in last week as “first fruits” for our Free to Grow campaign, as our debt quickly drops from the $400K range toward the $300K range.
There is always a place and a time for you to be part of this concerted progress—and the fun!
SLOW NEWS
The City of Plano Permitting Staff continues to find new requirements we must meet before issuing us our permit to proceed with the construction of our parking lot addition and new Yardbird shed. We believe we’re finally close.
Several survey stakes with flags—plus a porta-potty—continue to tease us about this project that will not take long once it begins.
Giving always slows during the summer months. It would help our ministry if it slowed less this summer. There is a lot of goodness going on.
My grass. It seems to take forever to fill in winter’s bare spots.
The coming of the Holy Spirit.
BEST NEWS
Wait
Hardest word to hear. But that is what Jesus told his disciples to do before he left them for the second time – this time, for heaven.
This Sunday is Ascension Sunday—centered around Holy Communion—where we practice slowing down and waiting for the Holy Spirit to come and renew our spirits.
That is hard to do. But then again, the best things in life often require it.
As we slow down to kneel, reflect, pray, and commune with Christ, may we enjoy the anticipation of all that is surely coming—because Christ said so. Amen.
Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor
