Well, Gloria and I have now had the privilege of being a part of the Fannin Family for just over a month. In this, my first “Pastor’s Pen”, I would like to share some impressions that we have formed as we have walked the journey of faith with you for this short period of time.
First of all we have felt the Fannin Welcome big time! We have been blessed by the gracious way you have reached out to us by way of cards and letters, e-mails, text, phone calls and personal visits. A friend of ours said after visiting at Fannin on a Sunday, “It just feels like one big hug.” She was right!
And of course we have enjoyed the many opportunities to gather around the meal table. In addition to lunch invitations, even before we arrived (Gloria received more that I did by the way), you celebrated our first Sunday at Fannin with a meal. Since then we have celebrated July 4th with a barbeque at the Freeny’s; the arrival of the Parnell's grandchild with a meal at the Cox’s; why we even had a meal at a meeting of the Hospitality Team, not to mention the Breakfast Bar (aka-Common Grounds) every Sunday morning between Sunday School and Morning Worship. I have not found any record so far, but I am sure that somewhere in our elected officers, there is a “Let’s Come Up with a Reason to Eat” Team.
In the First Century the meal table was a very important place for families to gather and for guests to be welcomed. In that day to eat with someone meant that you accepted the other person as someone of value in the sight of God and therefore of value to you. Perhaps this is precisely the reason why Jesus was willing to have a meal with all who would have him sit at their table, saint and sinner alike. So, it appears that we would do well to continue to follow in the steps of the Master and keep looking for ways to gather at the table.
The Prayer Quilt ministries, the Tutoring ministry, the Mission ministry, the Benevolence ministry, the Teaching ministry, the Ecumenical ministry, the Administrative ministry, are just some of the ways I have observed or heard about that the people of Fannin UMC are using their gifts and talents to serve Christ and His Kingdom. Gloria and I look forward to becoming involved in these and the many other ways of ministry that God will lead us into at Fannin.
~Joy and Peace, Rod
