A Word From the Pastor

Peaceful greetings. I write this on my birthday with great thanks. Sunday we celebrated my birthday at church and pastor appreciation month. The church gifted me with a centerpiece for my table and cards that touch my heart. Thank you. I continue to serve Stamford UMC with joy. I was thinking about how this church was just two years ago and how much progress we have made both administratively and spiritually since I came just under a year and a half ago. It has taken much prayer, patience, kindness, and love.

Every night before I go to sleep, I pray my thanks to God. I thank God for allowing me to be a pastor. I thank God for each of you. I thank God for my family. I thank Him for many things, sometimes even for not hitting a herd of deer crossing a road. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. When I was young, my mom (and us) used to cook for days and have a huge Thanksgiving dinner for the WHOLE family, sometimes forty people. It was probably the only day of the year that many who gathered around the table heard a blessing on their meal. And now that I am older I understand that some around the table couldn’t stand some of the others around the table, but everyone put on their manners and behaved well.

I thank God for every person in our congregation who tithes to the church. I have tithed for a long time, first out of obligation and then because I saw the blessings from it. We have so many choices about where to spend our money that it becomes easy to give less to the church. But it is a matter of priorities. What joy it is to see churches have enough money to pay the bills AND be in ministry to the community. And I thank God for every person who gives what every amount they can. Every bit is being faithful, even the widow with her two mites. What joy it is that we are able to give part of the dinner proceeds to the food pantry.

This Thanksgiving will be a special one. My kids are doing fine in school. We are all healthy. And we have invited the Presbyterians to join us for Thanksgiving Eve worship @ 7pm. Please remember the church this Thanksgiving in your prayers. Philippians 1:3-11. God is with us.

Pastor Sallie