The Times They Are A-Changin

Bob Dylan wrote a song entitled “The Times They Are A-Changin.” If there’s anything we’ve learned in life, it is that life is one of   continual change. Change is built into nature with the Seasons, the Life-cycles, even the sun’s setting and rising. We live amidst constant change, and through that we find that we our- selves are changing. We grow, learn, we experience new things.

We’re living through one of those seasonal changes in our church, as we prepare to send the Paulks off to love and serve the people of Folkston, and as we prepare to welcome Trevor and Katy Ward to Tifton, and as we start the search for our next Children’s Director.

Moves mean changes, and we want to be intentional about how we move the church through the coming changes we’re going to be experiencing. With that intentionality, we will be making some temporary changes to our worship services, and will be combining the 10:50 Contemporary and 11:00 Traditional services for a period of 5 weeks, from June 6^th – July 4^th. That will allow us to accomplish some specific things.

First, we want to be able to celebrate the Paulk’s ministry with us together. So, on June 6^th, we’ll come together in the 9 and 11 AM services to hear Robby preach, and to celebrate their time with us. The Bishop asks that moving pastors be out of the pulpits on the 13^th, to have a family time together before they go to their next appointment. Since Robby nor Trevor will be here, we’ll combine. On the 20^th, we’ll be welcoming the Wards. It’s really difficult to do that in services that are running at the same time, so we will again combine.

During this down-time for the Contemporary service, we want to be intentional about preparing it for a great relaunch on July 11^th. WE don’t feel like all of our moving parts for that service will be ready by the 27^th, and we don’t want to try and relaunch on the 4^th of July. Instead, I’m asking that if you are invested in the Contemporary Service, and want to be involved in a specific area of that service –  music, greeter, usher, refreshments, visitor table, volunteer – that you let me know. We will be doing some intentional planning and scheduling for the coming weeks and months, and we want your input. We’ll plan on relaunching the service on July 11^th, with great expectations about what God is going to do through that service. During the combined time, we will be streaming the combined service in the slot we usually stream the Contemporary service on Facebook.

Please continue to be praying for the Paulks, the Wards, the Search Committee looking for our next Children’s Director, and Tifton First as we move through this season of change. We know that God is doing something special, and we want to make sure that we don’t miss out on what He would have us to be doing.

If you’re interested in helping with the Contemporary Service, you can call or text me at 706-570-3330, or email me at seniorpastor@tiftonfumc.org.

In Christ,

Chip