Rev. Ronnie's Remarks

  Greetings in the name of the only Son of God, who saves!

  Billy Bob asks Joe Bob: "What do you get when you mix Holy Water with castor     oil?" Joe Bob says: "I don't know, what?" Billy Bob: "A religious movement!"

  (Har­ har!)

  Right now any movement in the Church (the General Church, that is) would be         good whether it be "a religious move­ment" or not. I am so proud of the hard work   being done on the landscaping and gardening on our property outside. There 

  are  needs we must plan to make soon to our Sanctuary/Worship Center, such as

 leaking windows and peeling pews. We have several lights out in the Worship Center noticeable during worship. Our roof over the Sunday School, Business Office and Sanctuary must be replaced soon. A church plant this size is similar to your home; there is always something that needs replacing or repaired, is that not true?

Those things are important because they speak loudly to how we feel about ourselves and our church. It's a reflection upon what we think of God and the House of God, amen? That's something we can all participate and share in planning toward improving.

One thing, though, that only we can directly improve upon is our personal growth in Jesus Christ. Thomas Bandy, a forward thinker when it applies to church growth says in one of his publications, "No enduring change can happen in the church, no matter how large or small, without it being linked to the continuing growth in one's relationship with Jesus." That statement says to me we cannot hope to change the world (which is what making disciples of Christ affects) without first working toward changing ourselves. A lasting and dramatic change within our neighborhoods and culture will happen only if we seek to change and grow spiritually in Christ.

Do you follow a plan for your spiritual growth? What disciplines in Christianity do you work on? Are you involved in a small group study of some kind? Do you participate in a Sunday School class? Are you regularly with the fellowship of saints in worship? Do you tithe and give sacrificially to the mission of our church? Are you involved in church leadership and planning for evolving Christians?

Our current mission statement is: Love God, Love others, Serve all. What areas are you personally rendering your service and giving of yourself to make the life of others better? If we are to grow Allendale, it will take all of us working and working together to not only catch the vision, but to realize the vision. Having served 10 congregations previous to Allendale, I am aware that many do not want change in their church because they fear the change will cause us to lose God. Let me leave you with this assurance: our Living Lord said to Peter, "And, I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Rock is not Peter; Jesus is the solid foundation of His church. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb.13:8, NRSV). Although everything around us is changing and some faster than others, our LORD and His testimony will not change.

If we each work to improve ourselves (contine to grow spiritually in Christ Jesus), Allendale and our neighborhood will improve as well. Because then the Kingdom of God is being built up for the glory of God. Amen.

See you in worship.

Ronnie Jones

• CHANCEL CHOIR:   Thank you, Choir, for another wonderful year of worship leading through our shared gift of music. Some of the highlights of our choir year included performing at the Charge Conference at Christ UMC in October, caroling at the Masonic Home, presenting our Christmas Cantata on Christmas Eve, our powerful Easter service, and the combined service on May 3 celebrating Allendale's 88^thyear of serving Christ. I am looking forward to the privilege of directing the choir for another awesome year of exciting and inspirational musical performances. We will resume rehearsals on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7pm, and will perform on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. We ask God's blessing and travel mercy on all our members who have departed from Florida for the summer - we look forward to being together again in the Fall.

• CALLING ALL SINGERS: New members for the choir are always welcome and needed. No singing experience necessary. Please call or email Sandy any time for further information.

• CHILDREN'S CHOIR: The Children's Choir year ended with their last performance and party on Sunday, May 20.   Parents, thank you so much for allowing your child(ren) to participate. We will resume rehearsals beginning on Sunday, Sept. 9, with first performance being on Sunday, Sept. 30.  Children's Choir is open to children grades K-8 and meets in the choir room at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your child to music and worship leading.

• REMINDER TO CHOIR AND INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE: Please return "used" music to the file basket in the Choir room or the one next to the organ in the Sanctuary.

• PRAISE BAND: Thanks to Josh Haley, our bass player for many years, who is taking a break from the band due to school and work conflicts. We miss you, Josh! We are blessed to have Dennis McCarthy and Mike Delaney playing with us when their schedules allow.

• INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE: Unlike the choir, our Instrumental Ensemble does not take the summer off, and I want to thank each of you for your important contributions to worship all year long. We are blessed to have so many talented musicians willing to use their gifts in worship.   Please look over the Summer Performance Schedule and let me know if any dates don't work for you. We want to grow our Instrumental Ensemble. If you play an instrument, no matter what level, please consider joining us. Contact Sandy for further information.

• SOLOS/SMALL ENSEMBLES: Soloists, vocal or instrumental, and small musical ensembles are welcome and encouraged to perform - please contact Sandy for further information.

• TECH TEAM: First, a HUGE THANK YOU to all who covered for Larry when he was out with his illness and surgery. Thank you, Kenny Smoak, for the outstanding job you did running the projector for the complicated and unusual combined service on May 3. And Bob Grainger is a certified genius in my book - not only did he solve the choir's microphone problem creatively, but he did it spending little if any funds - you are AWESOME, THANK YOU!

• ATTENTION EVERYONE: Reminder of VIDEO RULE: If anyone wants to present a video during services, you must get it first to Joe Deal, who will test it before the Sunday it is to be presented.