Top Ten List of Significant Events 2012

"I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past." Psalm 77:11

Dear All Souls Family,

Just before Christmas I wrote a light-hearted "top ten" list of significant events in our congregational life over 2012.  We had planned on sending it out the week between Christmas and New Years.  As you know, our beloved Mary Tarwater tragically passed away during Christmas week.  It did not seem appropriate to send the list out during such a painful time. As we grieve Mary's death, it is good to remember that God is faithful and present in every season.  He is with us in our grief and our laughter.  With this in mind I thought it appropriate to send you the email now.  I hope it reminds you of the many ways God has been faithful and present to us over the past year.  

Scripture encourages us to reflect back and remember how God has been at work in our lives. Here's my top ten list for 2012.

1. Jesse joined our staff team as our worship director. It's been a joy working with you brother.

2. We sent out Grace and Peace Church. By all accounts, this young church is flourishing. We still miss you though.

3. Six couples exchanged the vows this year and invited our community to support them in the pilgrimage of marriage. Congratulations to Taylor and Jenna Claire Rorex, Joe and Kelli Morelock, Matt and Margaret Lyle, Ben and Jessica Bowers, Shawn and Janetta Mauer, and Trey and Mandy Brindle. 

4. God gave our community lots of new babies this year! We celebrated the births and adoptions of Peyton Petty, Quinn Jorgensen, Kai Whisman, Arwen Morgan Kelly, Aimee Hall, and Shiloh West. All Souls became a little more family friendly this year. We set up a video of the service in the chapel for parents of little ones. We moved the service time during the school year to five o'clock. And, we purchased new gliders in the nursery.

5. Suffering and Healing. Susanne Hassell bravely and prayerfully fought her cancer and is doing great. Ron Wollard had a severe stroke, yet came out of the hospital in good health! Lisa Murray kept fighting MS with dignity and peace. Many others found strength to endure suffering. Still others found emotional and spiritual healing after receiving prayer.

6. We launched the Health Care Fund and began giving grants to All Souls folks struggling with medical bills.

7. Sarah Whisman and Quinn Jorgensen were baptized at our birthday party.

8. Our people did lots of cool stuff in the city. The Johnsons started SHAREHouse. Ginger Kielarowski volunteered at Green Magnet Elementary School. Paul Hassell and a host of photographers from our congregation took free family portraits for about thirty at-risk families. A bunch of us helped coach the Emerald Youth Swim Team. The Bullingtons volunteered at KARM. Lynn Charles tutored through Just Lead. Lots of us mentored kids. Dan Frye walked with the victims of violent crime.

9. We found more ways to connect. We started five small groups. Mary Tarwater began a class on healing. Caleb started the Dude's Group. The young moms launched SoulMamas. Mark Pate began a study in Genesis. We began the Official Old Guys Friday Lunch Group.

10. We began giving ten percent of our budget to the city. Last year, even as we struggled to make budget, we felt led by God to tithe our annual budget to the city. So we stepped out in faith and decided to add another $33,000 to our budget for that purpose. As of this writing, we have almost made our 2012 budget goal. Way to go and keep it up! We engaged in "10 to the City" - a Congregation-wide engagement process this Fall to determine where to give the money. (Drum roll please) YOU decided to give the money to Greene Elementary School's Project GRAD program to provide additional classroom materials for the teachers, Emerald Youth Foundation in part to sponsor the swim team, Volunteer Ministry Center to support the homeless outreach ministry of Caroline Carter, Global Seeds to support the ministry to refugees, Holy Paths to support need based scholarships for spiritual retreats, and Beardsley Farm which grows produce in the urban core to supply to area ministries. You also decided to create a competitive small grants program that will be launched in 2013 for small groups to apply to leverage their efforts at community impact and service to the City. You can find out more details on 10 to the City at this link. Hint: You'll find All Souls people involved in each ministry in which we are investing, and you are encouraged to find out how you can make an even bigger difference through your service in these ministries. Knoxville is a better place because of God working through you!

I spent nine days in a cabin earlier this month turning the fall sermon series into an e book tentatively titled Seek the Peace of the City: Ten Ways to Bless the Place Where You Live. We'll use it for future Pilgrimage classes. Thanks for giving me the gift of three weeks away from the pulpit to get this project done. Writing is a form of prayer for me. I find treasures in my heart when I get quiet and write. One of the treasures I found in the cabin was a deep joy in being your pastor. I love who you are and all you do for this family and for others.

May God bless us as we journey together for Him.

Warmly in Christ,

Doug