Several of you made positive comments about the new format for the PastorGram. Thank you! It is good to know so many of you are watching for it and reading it! I just hope to see the list of "subscribers" grow. It is an effective and inexpensive way to communicate. It will be an increasingly important tool for us in the future.

          Last Monday KCPL was on the job setting a new electrical transformer in place. The new Family Life Center now has power! As a result, the heat is on and the concrete blocks are drying out. Everything, as far as I know, is ready for some volunteer painters on Saturday morning! I know many of you have been eager for such volunteer opportunities and this is an important one. I hope you can be here. Things are coming along steadily with the new building, and every time I am in there it is more exciting! This is going to be a great space for the future of First! It has been a while since I mentioned the four things you can do. Maybe it's time to say them again! You can pray for every aspect of this project. You can remember it is about ministry to people. You can give your financial support. And, you can volunteer when there are work opportunities! These are each key to the success of the effort. I am always grateful for the good leadership of our Building Committee.

          Last week we asked if there is anyone who wants to help organize a community garden project. The Trustees have endorsed the idea of offering members of the community a garden space. We can get the ground plowed. Do we have someone who is willing to help with the organization? This idea was offered by a member, and I think it is a good one. It might be a real service to the community to share some of our space for this purpose. There are probably members who would like to have a garden space, too. I hope a few of you will step forward to give leadership to this great idea!

          We have had a good response to offering the opportunity to sponsor the Hospitality Table on Sunday. When we have a sponsor, there will be a sign on the table for them to say "Thank you," or celebrate a special occasion. Nancy and I did it last week to say thank you for all your prayers and support during Nancy's surgery and recovery. This week our two Lay Leaders, Jo Perrin and Steve Carruthers, are generously buying us a donut! They are thanking you for the opportunity to serve as Lay Leaders. We all join in thanking them for their able leadership! I am sure you have an anniversary or a birthday to celebrate; this might be a great way to do it. As you enjoy your treat from the hospitality table, your regular donation will support the ministries of First UMC!

          On Saturday evening the Cokesbury Hymnals will be out in the seats. Well, in a lot of the seats. We will have a little hymn-sing and use these new old hymnals. These were a gift to us from First UMC in North Kansas City. You probably know where the name Cokesbury comes from. Dr. Thomas Coke was an ordained Anglican priest and follower of John Wesley. He was sent to the new United States in 1784 to organize a new church, the Methodist Episcopal Church. Francis Asbury was a lay preacher and the most influential leader of the Methodists at the time. The new Church elected him a Bishop and together these two men led the young Church. And, they gave their combined names to the hymnal. By the way, they were both long passed when this hymnal was named in their honor.

          It is a great weekend to attend worship at First! We will celebrate the Lord's Supper in all the services. The 10:45 service, with lots of help from musicians and Chancel Choir, will be a traditional Methodist service. The theme is "Presence" in all the services.  I pray you will be present at one of the Worship services!

Grace and Peace,

Steve Campbell