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Crossville FUMC Newsletter
Crossville First United Methodist Church– the church with the window on the heart of our town.
The First 100 Days...
2014
I must be honest! When I first heard I was coming to Crossville, I really wrestled with how I might ever be
able to love a place as much as I loved the church at Cookeville. That had been home to me for a very long
time, and it was hard to leave! However, from the moment we first arrived in Crossville, I've been so moved
by your expressions of love and care, by your willingness to embrace ministry together with us in so many
ways, and by your acceptance of us as family.
Over three months have slipped by as quickly as three days, and I must tell you that now I can't imagine
ever being able to love a place as much as I love Crossville! Don't misunderstand me, I'm not prone to
fickleness or sudden emotional attachments - I mean every word of what I say. It feels to me like we’re
making a deep, lasting connection that only God could have imagined for us, and I am so thankful for it!
One of my greatest joys is introducing myself as “one of the pastors at Crossville First United Methodist.”
I am so proud to be your pastor!
When we first arrived, we talked about how important the “First 100 Days” are. We said these first three
months set the tone for the first three years! If that is the case, then we are in for a wild ride my friends!
We divided our First 100 Days into three movements—Getting to Know Each Other, Learning Where We
Are and Where We’ve Been, and Listening Together for God’s Dreams for this New Chapter. We are still
moving back and forth through these, but I feel like we’ve all done a good job making the most of these
first few months! In addition to this foundational work, you invited Sommer and me into some significant
projects and ministry which are making our work so much richer. So we can celebrate, it might be helpful
to make a list! TOGETHER in God’s grace and wisdom, we’ve—
Need to email a staff member?
Drew Shelley:
[email protected]
Sommer Worley:
[email protected]
Eliud Martinez:
[email protected]
Kimberly White:
[email protected]
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Jill Kemmer:
[email protected]
Carol Bond:
[email protected]
Rhonda Phillips:
[email protected]
Crossville FUMC
P.O. Box 752
Crossville, TN 38557
(931)484-3537
Website: www.crossvillefumc.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook & Twitter: Crossville FUMC
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Discovered and resolved serious systemic financial problems.
Formed a Children and Family Ministry Team
Rounded out our Youth Ministry Schedule with
the leadership of the Youth Council
Placed Lisa Williams in charge of our Nursery
Offered Back to School Backpacks and a warm
connection with 280+ kids and their families
Transitioned to 'Every Other Week' Newsletter
With the help of volunteers, we've been able to
streamline our staff by creating an Executive
Assistant position (Carol Bond). Rhonda Phillips has been hired to take Carol's place as the
Church Secretary
Had multiple great fellowship opportunities in
the past few months due to the leadership of
the Worship Committee
Seen a lasting increase in Worship Attendance
We've started the conversation around Disciple-
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ship - and expectations of Church Membership
Begun the work of discerning God's Call on our
church and our life together
At the present moment, we are
• Building a School Partnership Ministry
• Teaching a WNL Bible Study
• Sharing time together in each Sunday School
Class
• Working to build a Discipleship Formation
Team
• Working on an INVITE Team to encompass
Hospitality, Evangelism, and Assimilation
• Stewardship Committee hard at work thinking
about what 'Year Round Stewardship' might
look like in our church.
• Considering adding 2—4 new Sunday School
opportunities
• Looking forward to an incredible future!
Lest you think Sommer and I are “tooting our own horn,” we want you to know that all of this incredible
work was bubbling up among you long before we arrived! None of this could have happened without your
full engagement, your calling, your energy, and your work. Our task has simply been to point out what God
is doing in and through you—and to help create an environment where these things could blossom. Personally, we have never experienced a church where so many are so deeply committed to the mission of making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. You are incredible people with incredible faith and passion for the Gospel. Your hearts beat for the sake of the world around you—this is indeed the church with the
window on the heart of our town. We thank God for you—and we look forward to many years together sharing
the ministries of Christ in this place!
Sisters and brothers, though these first 100 days have been great, the best is yet to come! Get ready!
We love you!
Drew Shelley and Sommer Worley, proud to be your pastors!
Crossville FUMC
FUMC Newsletter
Newsletter
Crossville
Page 22
Page
Pastor Sommer’s
Christian
Care
Corner
Christians & Grief, pt. 2 - Do’s and Don’ts for Helping Those Who Grieve
A month ago we explored to not try to offer words of find someone who they
the grieving process and condolence. To be present can talk to or who can help
the different ways and with someone who is them with any problems
reasons for grief from a grieving can make all the they are facing. Pastors
Christian perspective. difference for them in their are trained for this. We
Now, let us think of ways grieving process. Honesty also have amazing Stephen
that we as the Body of and humility are also im- M i n i s t e r s
in
our
caring for congregation who can help
Christ can care for those portant when
those who are grieving.
who grieve.
people that are facing
crisis and grief. For more
We all want to provide Don’t make light of their information about Stephen
Sometimes Ministry, contact me or
comfort and prayers when situation.
a friend or family member when we don’t have the the church office.
is grieving.
There are right words to say, we will
many ways we can help. just try to shy away from Don’t just be empathetic.
However, there are also any form of communica- Yes, empathy is great in
things that Christians have tion with those who are understanding what a
done that are not very hurting, or we will shy person is feeling or
helpful or may even cause away from any mention of thinking, but you may risk
harm. Below are some the deceased. Also, if we getting stuck in your own
things we need to do and have it in our mind that grief. This is another way
things we need to be they should be over their you may find yourself
careful to not say or do grief, as in they have experiencing Compassion
around those we care “grieved enough,” we may Fatigue.
If you only
find ourselves frustrated acknowledge the pain and
about as they grieve.
and not wanting to be that emotions of those who are
Don’t say the wrong thing. shoulder to cry on any grieving, then you will not
This is called be able to help them.
The wrong thing could be longer.
Fatigue.
any of the following Compassion
clichés, “God needed Again, just being there to Do have sympathy. This
another angel.”
Or, listen or to offer a friendly is the difference. First, put
“Heaven is a better place smile will help those who yourself in their shoes.
for them than this world.” are grieving. To sincerely What would you want to
Sometimes these phrases ask how they are doing hear, or what would you
are the only explanation and honestly expecting an want help with? Then,
we can come up with as to answer will help the per- provide that comfort with
why the person who has son grieving to feel better humility, honesty, and
passed away is gone from than they did moments love. Don’t take someone
us. It is important that we earlier. “How are you else’s grief to heart or
acknowledge the fact that doing?” could also be a dwell on it constantly;
we don’t always know clichés that is best left however, do acknowledge
why our loved ones die. unsaid, especially if asked their grief and listen when
We do not have all the t o s o on aft er th e they are around you.
answers, and I don’t have death. You may get the Ultimately, don’t try to be
all the answers and angry response of “How Christ, but be like Christ.
probably never will while do you think I am do- Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
I am here on this earth. ing?” Again, don’t try to
Many times, it is what we answer, but listen with unIn the Love of Christ,
say that could cause the derstanding and compasSommer
bereaved to be more sion. Support is very imdepressed or angry.
portant in helping a per- “Therefore if you have any
son get through their grief. encouragement from being
united with Christ, if any
Do listen! Since we don’t
have all the answers and Do make sure they find the comfort from his love, if any
sharing in the
don’t know what we help they need. If you are common
Spirit, if any tenderness and
should say sometimes, the worried about the health of compassion, then make my
best thing we can do is to someone who is grief joy complete by being likelisten. Sometimes, all that stricken, or you feel you minded, having the same
the person who is cannot help them anymore love, being one in spirit and
experiencing grief needs is than you already have, of one mind.”
for someone to listen and then humbly and in love
Philippians 2:1-2
A Report from Your Finance Committee:
Many of you were present last Sunday (10/19) for our Financial Open Forum. Thank you so much for
your presence and your participation. The conversation was fruitful and the information shared was important. We’d like to offer a brief summary here for those who were not present.
Crossville FUMC Newsletter
Page 3
Regarding our previously mentioned systemic issues:
• All tax liabilities are paid
• All tax form filings are current
• Bills are being paid on time
• We have excellent controls and systems in place which are functioning quite well
• The Small Business Department of Parsons and Wright, CPA’s, is handling our bookkeeping
• Our Treasuer, Cathy Camera, is the link between our office and P&W, she is also recording contributions and cleaning up giving records
• We will begin paying our Apportionments (our part of the ministries of the United Methodist Church)
as quickly as we are able to repay our Tax Liability Loan
Regarding our debt:
• Building Debt stands at $729,737.18, down from an original balance of $1,893,710.70 (11/2006)
• Tax Liability Loan balance remains at $150,000. We have already received $22,167.00 toward the
principle balance of this loan. We hope to be able to repay an additional $39,141.39, once we hear
from the IRS regarding forgiveness of penalties. The interest rate on all debt is 5.25%.
• A challenge was issued Sunday morning—that we pay off this Tax Liability Loan by the end of
November! With the gifts given to date, we only need 88 more people to give an extra $1000 gift!
This is something our congregation can do! We can all help—even if we can’t all give an extra
$1000. Remember that this is a gift over and above your usual General Offering.
Regarding our current position:
• We ended September with $3731.56 income over expenses. This is a significant improvement over
August, at which time we were nearly $9,000 expenses over income. Thank you for your faithful giving in support of the ministries of Christ in this place!
• Finally, we have made the full set of approved financial statements available to you at the Front Desk
of the church office. We simply ask that these not be copied or taken out of the office. Let us know if
you have questions.
Thank you! Rob Harrison, Chairman of Finance Committee
Transitions and Additions:
We are happy to report that Mrs. Carol Bond, our long-time Church Secretary, has transitioned into a
newly created Executive Assistant position within our office! She is working directly with pastors and
ministry staff to help ensure the administrative part of ministry happens efficiently and effectively! Carol
will continue her 30 hour per week work schedule.
We are also happy to introduce Ms. Rhonda Phillips, who is taking Carol’s place as Church Secretary.
You’ll see Rhonda here all day, every day, Monday through Friday!
Rhonda is a native of Crossville. She graduated from CCHS and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
with an Elementary Education degree. She is a member at Fairfield Glade First Baptist Church. Her parents are Slim and Evelyn Phillips of Hebbertsburg here in Cumberland County. She loves traveling and
mission work. From 2007-2008, she attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in her work
toward being a foreign missionary. We are glad to have her here with us!
Rhonda Phillips
Carol Bond
“Open hearts. Open
minds. Open doors.”
Children’s Sabbath - October 26th during 10:00 a.m. Worship
Bishop McAlilly - November 16th during 10:00 a.m. Worship