e-Note from Martin - Feb 14 Issue

Dear Church Family, This week's e-note covers the following subjects: Trinity UMC Update Chancel Choir Director Update The Clock A Special Weekend Trinity UMC Update: Exciting things are happening at Trinity UMC, our campus in Spring Hill. They recently received a gift from the Turner Family Foundation to purchase ten prime acres of land next to Summit High School and Spring Station Middle School for future development. They are also negotiating a new location that will give them more desirable space while they grow and prepare to build on the new land acquisition. Trinity is our daughter church, so these are extremely positive and exciting developments.

Chancel Choir Director Update: I'm pleased to announce that Dr. Bill Caldwell has been "fired" as our interim Chancel Choir director-and hired as our permanent Chancel Choir director. As I joked with the choir on Wednesday night, they made it very clear that if I wanted to live to see another day, I would find a way to make Bill permanent! If you attend the 11:00 service, you know Bill has done a remarkable job over the past six months as interim

director. Under his competent leadership, the choir has revitalized. We are fortunate to have Bill on our staff on a permanent basis. This would be an especially good time to join the Chancel Choir. If you would like more information about participating in the Chancel Choir, contact Bill at caldwell0585@yahoo.com.

The Clock: I love Sunday mornings at BUMC-with one exception.

I don't love the overwhelming pressure of the CLOCK. On Sunday mornings, I can relate to the words of the Fed-Ex worker played by Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway, "We live or die by the clock." With three services back to back, we have to move large numbers of people in and out of the sanctuary, plus set up for the next service, including preparing for Communion, and setting up and tearing down all the band equipment for Awakening (our contemporary service) which is no small task.

This massive undertaking, while the clock keeps ticking, keeps my blood pressure sky high! To help alleviate a bit of this time pressure, we try to begin the prelude at 8:25 and 10:55, and the announcements at 8:28 and 10:58, and the call to worship and opening song promptly at 8:30, 9:50 and 11:00. In order to fully prepare for the worship of God, it would be best for you to be in your seats five minutes before the service begins, allowing you to hear the beautiful preludes as well as listen to the important opportunities of service in the life of our church. By the way, this only applies to those who attend at 8:30 and 11:00, since Awakening does not have a prelude or opening announcements.

Speaking of the clock, parents need to know that our children's Sunday school classes can accommodate children at 9:40 a.m.

Taking them to their classes earlier puts undue pressure on our children's volunteer staff, so your cooperation on this matter would be extremely helpful.

A Special Weekend: Since this is a holiday weekend I'm sure some of you will be out of town. But if you are here, I hope to see

you at worship for several reasons. First, weekly worship is what Christians do. If we are not sick or out of town, God expects us to gather with our community of faith every weekend to worship.

Second, our brand new BUMC orchestra will play at all three Sunday morning services and you don't want to miss them.

Please be here on time so you can hear them! Third, our worship theme will be on a crucial topic. My sermon will be called "Our Other Constituency."

Finally, it was good to receive the following fifteen new members: Alyssa Stockard, Craig, Jana and Taylor Mickey, Barry, Leigh and Meghan Pittenger, Tim, Beth, Alex, Meg, Will and Robby Howard, and James and Lily Zeller. Welcome to our church family.

In Christ’s Love and Service, Martin