The end of the year is a wonderful time for evaluating the past year and looking forward to a new one.  At our Church Council meeting on Tuesday of last week, we took time to celebrate the many ways we had seen God at work at New Life during the past year and then on Wednesday night our Natural Church Development (NCD) Church Health Team met with our coach to look at what we can do to strengthen the ministries of New Life in the coming year! 

NCD began when someone started to ask what characteristics growing churches held in common.  Churches all over the world, of all different sizes, traditions, and styles, were surveyed and eight characteristics were identified that they all held in common.  The NCD process allows a congregation to look at itself and identify which of those 8 characteristics is their weakest and then to work together to improve that area.  A month or so ago, we surveyed 30 members of the congregation to determine what is called our “minimum factor” and what we discovered is that the area that we most need to work on in 2009 is gift-based ministry—or simply having the right people properly trained in the right positions.  After the beginning of the year, the entire congregation will have the opportunity to participate in focus groups to explore the issue.  In the meantime, we already had plans in place that relate to the issue:

 Saturday                              Jan 10    9 a.m.-12 p.m.                   Church Council Training

                (All members of the church council are asked to attend)

Saturday                              Jan 24    8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.             Every member in Ministry Training

Friday&Saturday              Feb 6&7 time TBD                           Spiritual Gifts Training

Thanks to the Servants Like Jesus Team at the North Alabama Conference, we were given a grant for the materials to help each of us to identify our Spiritual Gifts and then to explore where we can best put them to use in the life and ministry of this congregation. Please put the evening of Feb. 6^th and the morning and afternoon of the 7^th on your calendar and plan to attend. Even if you have completed an inventory before, it will be a great opportunity to learn more about each other and how those gifts can be used to strengthen the Body of Christ.  More details will follow soon!

Also don’t forget — This Sunday are children will lead us in worship as we explore the meaning of Christmas through their “Joyland” program!   We’ll meet at 10 a.m. for a joint worship service.   I hope to see you all there and remember to bring a new toy to help bring joy to some child’s Christmas!

Pastor Sherill