(November 2023) Love God, Love People, Serve the World

Even before I was appointed to Rome First UMC, I knew the church’s motto: Love God. Love
People. Serve the World. I loved our motto the first time I heard it, because it clearly and simply
describes what followers of Jesus are supposed to do.

Since coming to Rome First in July, I’ve been amazed again and again by how sincerely our
church strives to live out these words. That’s why it seemed like a natural fit to approach
stewardship season through the lens of our motto.

This Sunday, we’ll kick off our stewardship series, More Than a Motto: A Guide to Generous
Living. We’ll look at what Jesus has to say about money and the role it plays in our lives. It’s
been quite a few years since we’ve done a full stewardship campaign, but it’s a must for two
reasons.

First and foremost, stewardship is a spiritual issue. How we allocate our time, money and
talents is a reflection of who we say God is and the role that God plays in our lives. As your
pastor, my primary role is to help all of us live more faithfully. I include myself in that work,
because the Holy Spirit is still transforming me, too.

Additionally, our current financial situation makes it clear that we need to prayerfully focus on
stewardship. As the graphic below illustrates, we are about $76,000 short of where we need to
be for 2023.

I’ll note that we — like many churches — receive several large annual gifts at the beginning of
the year, so the first quarter always reflects above average giving. The second and third
quarters better reflect our average giving. Over the last few years, we have spent a large chunk
of our reserve fund to take care of some very necessary capital needs, including new roofs,
parking lots and HVAC units. Because of those expenses, our reserve fund is low, so we need
to prayerfully consider our giving.

The generosity of this congregation can be seen throughout our campus and community. We
have a legacy of caring for and sharing with others. Thank you for what you continue to make
possible! Your gifts can and do make a difference in the world.

In the next week, you’ll receive your 2024 pledge card in the mail, and we will also have them
available in the Wilder Center and in the narthex outside the sanctuary. We will celebrate
Thanksgiving on Nov. 19 by placing our pledge cards in the offering plates during worship. If
you cannot be in worship on Nov. 19, please feel free to bring your pledge card by the church office, mail it in, or place it in the offering plate during another worship service. Pledging helps our Finance Team plan for the year ahead, so your participation is very helpful.

Our motto continues to motivate and inspire me. I hope it does the same for you. Together, we
can live out these commands in ways that change the world. I’m proud to be your pastor, and I
can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in 2024!

Blessings,
Valerie

(October 2023) Wanted: Church Cheerleaders (no backflips required)

Like many of you, I spend part of my fall Saturdays watching my favorite college football team
on television. Go Dawgs! I plan the entire day around game time. I love hearing the roar of the
crowd and getting a sense of the stadium atmosphere. I also love watching from my recliner in
my den, where there are no lines for the restrooms and the snacks are free.

What I miss watching the game this way is seeing the marching bands (which I love) and seeing
the full routines of the cheerleaders. At least the TV crews show occasional shots of the
enthusiastic young people charged with keeping the energy of the crowd at near frenetic levels.
Every team needs cheerleaders. They lead the crowd when the game is going their way, and
they don’t stop when things could be better. They are constant and unswerving in their
dedication to their team.

Every church needs cheerleaders, too. There’s always a need for people who will joyfully invite
others to worship and reach out to those who are absent. Every congregation has a need for
members who talk about the ministries of their church with enthusiasm and love.
Rome First has some excellent cheerleaders, but we always need more. And don’t worry, you
don’t have to be able to do backflips to be a church cheerleader!

One of the most enthusiastic church cheerleaders I ever met was a lady named Helen. Helen
was a strong-willed woman who loved God and her church.

She also loved people. Each Sunday she noticed who wasn’t there and often followed up with a
phone call to let the individual know that they were missed. If she had the person’s address, she
frequently mailed them the Sunday bulletin along with a note. She wanted to see people in
church and made it her mission to encourage attendance and participation however she could.
Even as her own health declined, Helen kept cheering for her church.

I remember getting a phone message the Tuesday after Easter one year. Helen had called to
rejoice about Easter worship and left a message saying, “Hallelujah! You preached to a full
sanctuary!” It was indeed something about which to rejoice and give thanks. It was pre-COVID,
and the size of the crowd was unusually large, even for Easter.

Helen never stopped cheering for her church and what God was doing through its ministries.
How can you cheer for the work of Rome First? It’s not about glorifying us, of course. The point
is to cheer on God’s work that is being done through our church. We have much to cheer about,
and God is still doing new things in us. Get your pompoms ready and encourage those around
you to worship, serve, study and fellowship.

(September 2023) Finding Your Joy

If you were in worship this past Sunday, you heard me talk about a saying introduced
when my alma mater first launched its football team. The coach of the Berry College
Vikings told the team, “No one rides on this ship. We all row.” Everyone on the team
was expected to do their part.

It’s a great way to think about the importance of service, but it’s not the only connection
to service that I learned at Berry. From my first days as a student, I learned the college
motto: “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” It’s a quote from Jesus himself that’s
shared in multiple gospels. Newer translations phrase it slightly differently, using the
word “serve” in place of “minister,” but the meaning remains the same. Jesus was a
servant leader, and we are called to be, too.

I mention this because our church is in need of people to serve in a variety of ministries.
We are experiencing growth (thanks be to God!), and we need to be prepared for those
who are coming and who have yet to come.

We gave out a list of ministries with immediate needs last Sunday. Some of you have
already signed up to serve, but I want to encourage those who haven’t yet committed to
a place of service. Serve in a way that brings you joy. Serve in a way that allows you to
use the gifts that God has given you. Serve in a way that meets a need. Your service
makes a difference in the life of our church. It will make a difference in your life and walk
with Jesus, too.

I’m proud of what Rome First UMC has done in our community, and I’m proud to be your pastor.

Blessing,

Valerie

(August 2023) A Note from Pastor Valerie

Friends:

My first month at Rome First UMC has flown by! The first year in a new appointment is usually a wild and wonderful whirlwind as you learn about a church and community. It’s full of firsts: first worship services; first meetings with people and groups; and first iterations of special events. It is a challenging time, but it’s also incredibly joyful.

Thank you for your warm and gracious welcome. Thank you for continuing to introduce yourselves when we meet. Thank you for sharing church history and current needs with me. Thank you for dreaming about what we can do with God’s help. Thank you for loving God, loving people, and serving the world! There are lots of great things ahead. You’ll be hearing more about fall Bible studies soon, as well as special events like Blessing of the Animals and the fall carnival.

We closed out July with a great performance from the praise band and a reminder that many people
don’t yet know that God loves them. Let’s show them God’s love. Seeing the people of Rome First UMC kneeling in prayer along the chancel railing was inspiring and moving. May we continue to pray about our efforts to make disciples and share the love of Jesus!

God is at work, my friends! Let’s continue to join in God’s holy work.

Blessings,
Valerie

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