Dear Friends,

            The congregations of the Ann Arbor District have an exciting and challenging opportunity awaiting them in the next year! Please mark your calendars now for the following dates: April 10 - 13, 2008. This is for our “District Mission Celebration.”

Two dates in conjunction with this date are: 1) Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mission Celebration Brunch at Ann Arbor’s West Side Church. 2) The Mission Celebration Banquet at Washtenaw Community College near Ann Arbor’s St. Joseph Hospital. More details will be forthcoming in future Arbor Vines and e-mails, letters and the like, but for now I ask you to simply place them on your calendars… and hold these dates.

            Mission Celebration is what we “old-timers” might remember as “Mission Saturation”. It is a program and ministry that seeks to remind all of us as United Methodist Christians of our calling to be involved in missions as a sign of our faith in Christ Jesus. It will a time in which you and your congregation can become more familiar with, supportive of and involved in the world-wide missions ministry of our United Methodist Church. Through my ministry, I’ve  often been struck by the passion of our sisters and brothers who share the Good News in a variety of ways… locally as well as globally… and yet how little the “average” United Methodist knows about their dollars at work(forgoing for a moment what is an  “average” United Methodist).  

            Each congregation will be hearing more about this opportunity over the coming months, yet for now simply think of the number of ways you and your church can hear about those who share the Good News here in Michigan and around the globe. Some of the venues for hearing and sharing include worship services, Sunday School classes (for all ages), small groups, United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women and United Methodist Youth, Church Council meetings, meetings of your church committees, LOGOS groups, Choir/Band/Orchestra rehearsals, etc. If you are a member of a smaller membership church, combine some of these groups so as to maximize exposure and enthusiasm.

            Please know that, as your Superintendent, your Pastor, a brother in the ministry that we all share as baptized followers of Christ, I invite you… implore you… to plan now to fully participate and support the upcoming Mission Saturation Celebration for April 10-13, 2008.  Pray now for ways you and the people with whom you serve can lift up an awareness of, support for and encouragement of those who are in the mission field both here in Michigan… and beyond. May the renewing and transforming spirit of Christ bless you and all you love. Please be persistent in taking care of your life… as a steward of Christ’s gift to you and the better to serve each other in love.

            Shalom,
            Tom Macaulay