Don't Let the Time Slip By for Your Reboot - Series Finale

Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

INTRODUCTION

EXPOSITORS AND BIBLE HISTORIANS HAVE CALLED QUEEN ESTHER....THE HUMBLE HEROINE, AN ORPHANED

DAUGHTER, SAVIOR OF THE JEWS, VEGETARIAN FROM HER YOUTH, AND A WOMAN OF SUCH NATURAL BEAUTY AND

CHARM SHE FOUND FAVOR IN THE EYES OF ALL WHO SAW HER......

IN HEBREW SHE WAS CALLED, HADASSAH.....AN INDICATION THAT HER ACTIONS WERE AS PLEASING AS THE

FRAGRANCE OF MYRTLE........

The story of Esther begins with a grand banquet at the palace of King Ahasuerus, also referred to as King Xerxes.

The king had become drunk on wine and commanded that his wife, Queen Vashti come out before everyone to

show how beautiful she was. Queen Vashti refused to be paraded before everyone. King Xerxes was so angry at her

disrespect and disregard for his request that he divorced her. The king called for a nationwide beauty pageant to be

held to find a new attractive queen.

A Jewish woman named Esther was taken with other young women to a citadel. Esther's cousin Mordecai had

taken Esther in and raised her as his own after Esther's parents had died.

When it was Esther's turn to go before the king, he immediately found her the most attractive and beautiful of all

women and placed the royal crown on her head. King Ahasuerus held a great banquet for his new queen, Esther.

Esther continued to hide her Jewish background as Mordecai had instructed her to do because he knew it would be

dangerous for her if anyone found out she was a Jew. NOW THERE IS MORE PALACE INTRIGUE IN THE BOOK OF

ESTHER AND I WILL TRUST YOU TO FIND AND FOLLOW THE EVIL HAMAN AND HIS WAYS OF TREACHERY AS YOU PICK

UP YOUR BIBLE IN THE WEEK AHEAD.....

THIS MORNING WE WELCOME THE COURAGE SHOWN BY THE HEROINE QUEEN ESTHER.......THE SAVIOR OF ISRAEL

BEFORE JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO MAKE HIS INDELIBLE MARK.....

ESTHER’S LIFE TEACHES MANY LESSONS......AND SHE GIVES US SUCH STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT TO

RECOGNIZE

THE VALUE OF TIMING.....AMEN?

TIMING CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

THE STORY IS TOLD OF A WOMAN NAMED JULIA DIXON WHO HAD JUST ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED HERSELF OUT OF

HER HOUSE. JUST THEN THE MAILMAN DROVE UP THE DRIVE. “MRS. DIXON” HE EXCLAIMED IN CONCERN. “YOU

LOOK UPSET. WHAT’S THE MATTER?” “OH, I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GOING TO DO,” SHE WAILED, WRINGING HER

HANDS NERVOUSLY. “THE DOOR LOCKED BEHIND ME, AND MY NEIGHBOR, WHO KEEPS A DUPLICATE KEY FOR ME

IS OUT OF TOWN. MY HUSBAND HAS A KEY, BUT HE’S AT AN ALL DAY CONFERENCE AT A HOTEL DOWNTOWN, AND I

DOUBT I CAN REACH HIM. HOW AM I GOING TO GET BACK IN MY HOUSE?”

HE MAILMAN TRIED TO CALM HER DOWN AND ADVISED HER TO CALL A LOCKSMITH. “I GUESS THAT’S MY ONLY

RECOURSE,” SHE AGREED, “ BUT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THEY CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG AND I REALLY CAN’T

AFFORD AN EXTRA EXPENSE RIGHT NOW. THINGS HAVE BEEN TIGHT.”

THE MAILMAN COMMISERATED WITH HER BUT POINTED OUT THAT SHE HAD NO CHOICE. “LOOK, I’D BETTER BE

ON MY WAY,” HE SAID, “BUT HERE’S YOUR MAIL. WHO KNOWS? MAYBE THERE’LL BE SOME GOOD NEWS INSIDE ONE

OF THE LETTERS TO CHEER YOU UP!”

JULIA LOOKED THROUGH THE ENVELOPES. THERE WAS ONE FROM HER BROTHER JONATHAN. HE HAD VISITED

THE FAMILY THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND STAYED FOR A FEW DAYS. “I WONDER WHY HE’S WRITING SO SOON SHE

MURMURED. WHEN SHE TORE OPEN THE LETTER, A KEY FELL OUT INTO HER PALM.

“DEAR JULIA,” THE LETTER BEGAN. “LAST WEEK, WHEN I WAS STAYING AT YOUR HOUSE AND YOU WERE OUT

SHOPPING, I ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED MYSELF OUT. I ASKED YOUR NEIGHBOR FOR YOUR DUPLICATE BUT FORGOT

TO RETURN IT. SO I’M ENCLOSING IT NOW.”

TALK ABOUT GOOD TIMING, BELOVEDS, THAT’S IT......AMEN?

“COUNTING TIME, ONE WISE PERSON ONCE WROTE, IS NOT SO IMPORTANT AS MAKING TIME COUNT”

HALLELUJAH.....

THERE WAS A SIGN ON AN OFFICE BULLETIN BOARD THAT SAID, “IN CASE OF FIRE DON’T PANIC. SIMPLY FLEE THE

BUILDING WITH THE SAME RECKLESS ABANDON THAT OCCURS EACH DAY AT QUITTING TIME”…AMEN?

SOMETIMES IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TIMING........

AND LET’S NOT FORGET THAT WISE OLD ADAGE THAT REMINDS US AS BELIEVERS,

MOST OF OUR TROUBLES STEM FROM TOO MUCH TIME ON OUR HANDS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME ON OUR

KNEES

IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING MORDECAI THE COUSIN WHO RAISED ESTHER AND THE ONE WHO WAS SUCH A KEY TO HER DEVELOPMENT........AND HER CONSIDERATION OF THE HIGH OFFICE OF QUEEN HAS A WARNING TO ESTHER ABOUT TIME AND TIMING......

Esther 4:13–14 NRSV

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE ESTHER......THAT’S WHAT MORDECAI IS SAYING HERE.....BELOVEDS, AS YOUR NEW

BEGINNINGS IN THIS NEW YEAR START TO BEAR FRUIT OR CHALLENGE YOU OR TEST YOU.....MORDECAI’S

ENCOURAGEMENT TO ESTHER IS A POWERFUL THING FOR US TO REMEMBER TOO......

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE AS A BELIEVER IN GOD; AS A PERSON OF FAITH.....AS SOMEONE WHOM GOD HAS

HEALED, DELIVERED, SHOWN MERCY, GIVEN GRACE.......YOU HAVE A GIFT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, YOU HAVE A

TESTIMONY BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN TESTED AND YET SURVIVED.........

QUEEN ESTHER WAS ENTHRONED AT A TIME WHEN SHE COULD BE USED BY GOD.....

GOD CAN USE YOU TOO....THIS DAY, THIS MONTH, THIS YEAR.........

THE TIME IS SURELY COMING ESTHER WHEN YOU WILL SAVE YOUR PEOPLE, YOU WILL DO SOMETHING SO GREAT IT

WILL BE REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED

WHEN WE OPEN OURSELVES TO GOD’S WILL

SOME YEARS AGO, A BOOK JUMPED OFF THE SHELF AND INTO MY HANDS......IT’S CALLED, “IF GOD IS SO

GOOD WHY DO I HURT SO BAD?” THE QUESTION HAD BECOME RESONANT IN MY SPIRIT BECAUSE OF THE

ENCOUNTERS I WAS HAVING WITH FOLKS FIGHTING CHRONIC ILLNESS OR TERMINAL CONDITIONS........GOD HAD

PUT IN MY PATH MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE WHO SEEMED LIKE THEIR HOPE HAD BEEN SHOT DOWN OR STRAINED

TO A BREAKING POINT..........IN THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE BOOK, THE AUTHOR DAVID BIEBEL CONCLUDES:

PAIN NEVER REALLY ENDS....AT LEAST IT NEVER ENDS IN THE WAY WE WISH IT WOULD AND THE WAY OTHERS WISH

IT WOULD.....AND THEN BEFORE THE BOOK ENDS ITSELF HE GAVE ME 2 NUGGETS TO HOLD ONTO.....AND I SHARE

THEM WITH YOU TODAY....

#1 HE WROTE: HUMANLY SPEAKING LIFE IS PAINFUL ....SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING LIFE IS JOYFUL.....

HE WENT ON....TO ASK, WHICH WAY ARE YOU FACING RIGHT NOW? ARE YOU FACING TOWARD GOD OR AWAY FROM

GOD?

HE WROTE THAT IF WE ASKED GOD HOW TO MEASURE OUR PROGRESS.....AND I WANT TO APPLY THAT PROGRESS

AND THAT QUESTION TO OUR LIFE REBOOTS, BELOVEDS.......

IF WE ASK GOD.....#2: YOU WOULD HEAR WORDS LIKE BECOMING.....IF YOU DON’T LET THIS TIME SLIP BY.....

“BECOMING” IS A PROCESS WORD....GOD IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SOMETHING NEW IN YOU.......IF YOU DON’T

LET THIS TIME SLIP BY......

IF WE ASK GOD ABOUT OUR PROGRESS… YOU WOULD HEAR WORDS LIKE INCREASING.....IF YOU DON’T LET THIS

TIME SLIP BY.....“INCREASING” IS A DYNAMIC WORD....OH IF GOD COULD DO SOMETHING DYNAMIC WITH QUEEN

ESTHER…GOD CAN DO SOMETHING DYNAMIC WITH YOU AND YOURS TOO.....AMEN?

IF WE ASK GOD ABOUT OUR PROGRESS, BELOVEDS, YOU WOULD HEAR WORDS LIKE “DEVELOPING” IF WE DON’T

LET THIS TIME SLIP BY.........“DEVELOPING” IS A MATURATION WORD.....ARE WE MATURING IN OUR APPRECIATION

OF GOD’S WAYS AND GOD’S WORD......ARE WE MATURING IN USING THE GIFTS SO OTHERS CAN SEE YOUR

SPIRITUAL JOY IN YOU..... THEY CAN KNOW YOU’RE NOT LETTING YOUR PAINS DEFEAT YOU.....OVERCOME YOU OR

OVERTAKE YOU......

CONCLUSION

MAKE 2023 A TIME WHEN GOD DEEPENS YOUR FAITH....DEVELOPS YOUR FAITH AND DRIVES YOUR FAITH FARTHER

FORWARD........

QUEEN ESTHER’S GIFT TO US IS THAT FOR THE TIME GOD GAVE HER ESTHER MADE THE MOST OF IT.....SHE MADE

MORE OF IT THAN SHE COULD IMAGINE ALL BY HERSELF......GOD GAVE HER COUSIN MORDECAI AS COACH,

ENCOURAGER, MENTOR AND PROTECTOR........

QUEEN ESTHER’S GIFT TO US IS THAT SHE DIDN’T LET HER TIME SLIP BY.....SHE STOOD IN IT AND STOOD UP FOR

HER FAITH AND HER PEOPLE

DON’T LET YOUR TIME SLIP BY TO BE ALL YOU CAN BE FOR THE LORD, OUR GOD......

I CLOSE WITH THIS POETIC PIECE BY AN ANONYMOUS POET....MAY IT BLESS YOU IN THESE TIMES:

WHEN AS A CHILD, I LAUGHED AND WEPT.....TIME CREPT....

WHEN AS A YOUTH, I DREAMED AND TALKED.....TIME WALKED

WHEN I BECAME FULLY GROWN.......TIME RAN

AND LATER AS OLDER I GREW.......TIME FLEW

SOON I SHALL FIND WHILE TRAVELING ON.......TIME GONE...

DON’T LET TIME GO ‘TIL IT’S GONE…BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR MARK FOR THE LORD OUR GOD.....YOU CAN DO IT…

KEEP STRIVING, KEEP REACHING HIGHER, KEEP MATURING IN THE LORD OUR GOD....GOD’S GOT YOU.....GOD WILL

SEE YOU THROUGH..............LET US PRAY....

PASTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT - 2023 -

Rev. Dr. James Ellis Fouther, Jr.

Isaiah 25:1 NRSV

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

IN 2022, I RETURNED FROM THE FINAL PORTION OF MY SABBATICAL LEAVE, SPONSORED BY THE LILY FOUNDATION,

ON FEBRUARY 15th ...THE TIME AWAY WAS FILLED WITH REFLECTIONS ON MY MINISTRY AND IT’S IMPACT OVER OUR

19 YEARS TOGETHER AND MY OWN MANNER OF DEALING WITH EXHAUSTION, EMPTINESS AND DISCONNECTION

BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE WORLDWIDE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.....IT WAS WHILE I WAS AWAY THAT I SOUGHT TO EXALT

THE LORD OUR GOD FOR THE JOURNEY OF OUR TIME SPENT IN MY ACTIVE, DEEP DESIRE TO INSPIRE YOU,

MOTIVATE YOU, COMFORT YOU, ENCOURAGE YOU, CHEER YOU ON AND HELP YOU SEE HOW MUCH YOU TOO HAVE

TO PRAISE GOD FOR.....I CAME TO YOU AS A YOUNG FATHER, HUSBAND, SON & BROTHER WITH TWO DAUGHTERS

IN 2022, I PERSONALLY GAVE MANY HOURS TO LEARNING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW SOFTWARE OFFERED BY

FAITHLIFE.COM…& THE SERMON PREPARATION TOOL THEY OFFER IS CALLED LOGOS AND LOGOS WORKS

SEAMLESSLY WITH FAITHLIFE PROCLAIM: THE SOFTWARE USED EACH SUNDAY TO PRESENT OUR WORSHIP ONLINE

AND IN THE SANCTUARY ON SCREEN..........SO IN 2022, IN ADDITION TO STAND ALONE SERMONS IN FEBURARY AND

FOR EASTER I PREACHED:

8 - SERMON SERIES WITH SERMONS THAT INCLUDED UNIQUE SLIDES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ONE, AND A ‘GPS’

OR GROW, PRAY, STUDY RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS IN LIVE WORSHIP......AND ACCESSIBLE TO ONLINE USERS

WHO SIGN UP FOR THEIR OWN FAITHLIFE ACCOUNT

“A TIME TO....” BASED ON ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 3

“MASTERMIND: CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE”

“KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS”

“THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: LIFE CUT SHORT”

“REDEEMING YOUR TIME”

“NO ROOM” FOR ADVENT

“WHAT SHALL WE BRING?” - 3-PART STEWARDSHIP SERIES

“YOUR NEXT MIRACLE: PERSONAL CHOICES THAT CREATE MIRACLES”

CREATED OVER 10 GRAPHIC SLIDES FOR WORSHIP IN CANVA.COM AND ADDITIONAL PICTURE SLIDES WHEN WE

GOT NEWS OF DEATHS, OR GRADUATIONS OR OTHER FAMILY MILESTONES LIKE THE AFILAKA’S TRIP HOME WHERE

YINKA PROVIDED ME WITH PICTURES FROM SHE & DAPO’S SCHOOL IN NIGERIA

CREATED 5 MUSIC PLAYLISTS ON YOUTUBE WITH LINKS FOR MEMBERS TO CLICK ON AND ENJOY AND BE BLESSED

BY GOSPEL MUSIC WITH ONE CLICK

CREATED 130 UNIQUE MEMBER FOCUSED EMAILS TO GET INFO OUT ON ANYTHING FROM DEATHS, TO WEDNESDAY

NIGHT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE BIBLE STUDY, OR CONVERSATIONS/FELLOWSHIP ON ZOOM TOGETHER TO

PROMOTIONS FOR THE ALL CHURCH COOK OUT HELD IN SEPTEMBER.... SINCE THESE EMAILS WERE CREATED IN

VERTICAL RESPONSE; AN AUTOMATIC EMAIL TOOL, I REPORT THAT THE RESPONSE RATE HOVERED BETWEEN 30% -

55% OPEN RATE, NEVER REALLY EXCEEDING 55%......

CREATED GMAILS WITH THE MIDWEEK INFO FOR MEMBERS AT THEIR REQUEST......MORE THAN 75 OF THOSE IN

2022

WHEN AN ANONYMOUS GIFT OF A PAID ZOOM PRO ACCOUNT WAS GIVEN TO THE CHURCH WE MIGRATED FROM

FREECONFERENCECALL.COM TO ZOOM FOR OUR MONTHLY LEADERSHIP MEETINGS...

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF SIS MARY ETTA CURTIS AND MOC WHO DONATED ZOOM ASSISTANCE

AND SUPPORT BEFORE THAT PAID ACCOUNT WAS GIVEN TO UCM FOR CHURCH USE

I AM GRATEFUL TO OUR CHURCH SECRETARY, SIS CELESTINE BRYANT WHO FAITHFULLY PREPARES OUR WORSHIP

BULLETIN WEEK TO WEEK, WHO COMMUNICATES VIA EMAIL DIRECTLY ON MY BEHALF TO OFFICERS AND LEADERS

OF THE CHURCH, PREPARES A WEEKLY SLIDE FOR OUR SLIDE SHOW IN FOR WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTING OUR SICK

AND SHUT IN MEMBERS AND HANDLES INBOUND MAIL, COVERS THE PHONE AND OTHER TASKS GIVEN.....I WANT

TO THANK HER TODAY FOR TAKING ON THE TASK OF UPDATING OUR CHURCH DIRECTORY BY THE END OF MARCH,

2023 —A TASK REQUESTED BY ONE OF OUR ELDERS AND OUR CHURCH TREASURER

I AM GRATEFUL TO WILLIAM CURTIS WHO HEADS UP THE TEAM IN THE BOOTH INCLUDING VERNON LYLES, A.B.

MEYERS, JULIA ELLINGTON AND THERESA REDD.......I AM CERTAIN THAT MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE

CHURCH, SUCH AS THIS UPCOMING EVENT WITH REV NANCY NIERO, WILL COME OUR WAY BECAUSE OF THE

TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE BILL HAS REGARDING THE CONTINUING USE OF:

SERMON.NET - CHURCH ONLINE PLATFORM - PROCLAIM PRESENTATION SOFTWARE VIA FAITHLIFE.COM

AND OTHER ONLINE TOOLS AS WELL......

SPECIAL SERVICES IN 2022

IN 2022, THE UNITED CHURCH OF MONTBELLO WAS PLEASED TO RETURN TO OUR GOOD FRIDAY SPECIAL SERVICE

SCHEDULE WITH A CAVEAT.......THE SHARED WORSHIP SERVICE ON THE 7 LAST WORDS OF JESUS WAS ONLINE

ONLY.....THE BEAUTIFUL MUSICIANS WHO JOINED US THAT NIGHT RAISED THE ROOF AND MY CLERGY COLLEAGUES

PARTICIPATING, THE REVEREND LOUISE WESTFALL OF CENTRAL PRESBYERIAN CHURCH AND THE REVEREND KEN

BROWN, PASTOR OF TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DID SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF BRINGING THE

WORD IN A SINCERE AND INSPIRED WAY........WE SHARED THE ADMINISTRATION TASK OF THE SERVICE WITH

TRINITY UMC’S LEADERSHIP....AND SISTER CELESTINE LOVED THE PRINTED PROGRAM FROM THAT NIGHT SO MUCH

SHE’S TAPED A COPY TO HER OFFICE DOOR

I CREATED A YOUTUBE SHORT VIDEO TO PROMOTE OUR RECENT WATCH NIGHT/LIGHT SERVICE HELD ON THE

FINAL DAY OF THE YEAR AND IT REMAINS MY PRAYER THAT AN ONLINE AUDIENCE WAS ABLE TO BE BLESSED BY

THAT SPECIAL SERVICE.....OUR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE WAS AN ONLINE ONLY EVENT PROVIDED BY MY PARTNER

ORGANIZATION IN MINNEAPOLIS CALLED: CHURCH ANEW....

IN ADDITION, DURING THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY TIMES IN DECEMBER 2 SPELMAN/MOREHOUSE

CONCERTS WERE PRESENTED FOR OUR MEMBERS INCLUDING THE SPRING CONCERT AND THE CHRISTMAS CAROL

CONCERT AND ON THE FINAL WEDNESDAY OF THE YEAR A SPECTACULAR VIDEO WAS PRESENTED HIGHLIGHTING

THE BEAUTY AND DIVINELY TOUCHED INSPIRATION OF OUR NATION’S NATIONAL PARKS......

FINALLY, IN SEPTEMBER, I WAS ABLE TO SECURE A MONTBELLO BASED CATERER SO THAT WE COULD ENJOY,

TOGETHER AN ALL CHURCH COOK-OUT ON THE PARKING LOT, OUR FIRST SINCE THE CHURCH BUILDING SHUT

DOWN FOR COVID IN 2020 - IT WAS A SPECTACULAR SUNNY FALL DAY AND IT REMAINS MY PRAYER THAT WE ALL

WERE BLESSED BY THAT TIME TOGETHER AFTER WORSHIP

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

IN 2022, I CONSULTED ANGI’S LIST, ON BEHALF OF UCM, TO SECURE A PLUMBING SERVICE AS MR. JOHNNY

DURRAH THE PLUMBER WHEN I BEGAN SERVING THE CHURCH IS NOW RETIRED AND LIVING DOWN SOUTH

SOMEWHERE. OUR NEW PLUMBER/PLUMBING SERVICE IS WELL KNOWN TO OUR CHURCH TREASURER AND

FINANCE CHAIRMAN. IN 2022, CHRISTIAN THE PLUMBER FIXED LEAKY TOILETS, ADDRESSED PIPES IN BOTH

BATHROOMS AND REPLACED THE HOT WATER HEATER....CHRISTIAN THE PLUMBER NOW KNOWS US AND IS JUST A

CALL AWAY

IN 2022 I ATTENDED, ALONG WITH ANGELLE AND SISTER SHARON HENRY THE HOMEGOING SERVICE OF MR. RON

CHAMBERS WHO DIED WHILE STILL ON OUR CHURCH STAFF AS A CONTRACTOR....IT WAS MY HONOR TO BE

PRESENT WITH MARY ANN CHAMBERS DURING THAT DIFFICULT TIME

I AM GRATEFUL TO JAKE GILMORE AND GILMORE CONSTRUCTION WHO HELPED US UPGRADE OUR OUTDOOR

NIGHT LIGHTS ON THE BUILDING TO LED LIGHTING AND ASSISTED ME WITH MAKING SURE A NEIGHBOR WHO WAS

PARKING CARS, TRAILERS, TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY WITHOUT

AUTHORIZATION MOVED THEM…JAKE ALSO SENT OUT A TEAM TO CLEAN OUR GUTTERS THIS PAST FALL AT MY

REQUEST.....EARLY IN 2022 HE ALSO HELPED US TO ADDRESS A LEAK NEAR THE EDGE OF THE GUTTER SYSTEM ON

THE RAMP SIDE OF OUR BUILDING…AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE 2.5 MONTH

ORDEAL WITH THE CITY CITATIONS THAT COULD NOT HAVE COME TO A SUCCESSFUL NO FINE CONCLUSION

WITHOUT THE HELP OF KIERA JACKSON, JUSTIN SWIFT, JAKE GILMORE AND DARNELL OUR ELECTRICIAN WHO HAD

TO REPOSITION THE OUTDOOR LIGHTS

I AM GRATEFUL TO MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE THE REV RUSS KIRBY WHO HAS GIVEN COUNTLESS HOURS OF

HELP TO OUR VIDEO BOOTH TEAM AND HELPED ME PERSONALLY ADDRESS A HOLE THAT WAS KICKED IN TO OUR

SIDING ON THE RAMP SIDE OF THE BUILDING, EXPOSING THE WALL INSULATION....A PIECE OF THE SIDING WE DID

NOT USE AND THE SIDING TOOL THAT IS USED TO PUT SIDING UP IS AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE USES....

I AM GRATEFUL TO OUR FINANCE TEAM WHO SAW FIT TO ADDRESS THE TREE THAT WAS BUMPING UP AGAINST

ONE OF THE EAVES AND THREATENING TO TEAR THE GARAGE EAVE RIGHT OFF THE PARSONAGE.....ANOTHER SUCH

TREE REMAINS IN THE YARD ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARSONAGE....

IN 2022, BECAUSE OF A PRICE INCREASE I PAID TO DC LANDSCAPE COMPANY TO MOW, EDGE AND BEAUTIFY THE

YARD AND GROUNDS FROM APRIL THROUGH DECEMBER, TWICE PER MONTH $80 FOR A TOTAL OF $720.....I

MAINTAINED A SCHEDULE OF CUTTING AND TRIMMING MYSELF THE OTHER 2 TIMES A MONTH AND WITH THE

AERATION, FERTILIZER, TRIMMING OF TREES AND BUSHES.....MY FAMILY SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1100 ON LAWN

AND YARD......NOT INCLUDING A SEPARATE CONTRACT WITH THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY, ECO SHIELD

THE PARSONAGE FENCE REMAINS A CONCERN AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT BECAUSE OF IT’S AGE AND LONG SERVICE

TO THE CHURCH, OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION WILL MOVE BEYOND THE PATCHING THE VERY WORST PARTS AS

THE WHOLE FENCE SYSTEM CONTINUES AGING IN OUR EVER CHANGING WEATHER ENVIRONMENT HERE IN

DENVER....

I CANNOT CLOSE WITHOUT THANKING OUR CLERK OF COUNCIL ELDER VEL GARNER AND ALL OUR ELDERS WHOSE

SUPPORT OF THIS CHURCH IS EVIDENT IN YOUR ONGOING ATTENDANCE THROUGH THICK AND THIN, YOUR

CONSISTENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT, YOUR DESIRE TO SEE, FEEL AND KNOW THE VERY BEST MINISTRY OUTCOMES

FOR YOU AND FOR OUR WHOLE CONGREGATION.........AND OUR FINANCE TEAM OF BROTHER GARY COOPER &

SISTER LEOLA HARRIS FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS, DILIGENCE AND DEDICATION TO UC MONTBELLO........BELOVEDS,

TOGETHER, WE EXPANDED OUR UC MONTBELLO INCOME STREAMS SO THAT BEYOND OUR TITHES AND

OFFERINGS, CONSISTENT PAYMENTS COME MONTHLY TO OUR CHURCH FROM 2 OF THIS NATION’S CORPORATE

GIANTS AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MONTBELLO ORGANIZING COMMITTEE/ CHILDREN’S FARMS IN ACTION/

CONSUMPTION LITERACY PROJECT HAS BORNE NOT JUST FINANCIAL SUPPORT BUT LAND THAT PRODUCES SAFE,

DELICIOUS FOOD FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ONGOING FOOD BANK RUN NOW BY

STRUGGLE OF LOVE FOUNDATION AT ACADEMY 360.......

TOGETHER, WE CAN POINT TO A BONA FIDE DIGITAL PRESENCE WHERE DIGITAL CONTENT INTRODUCES THOSE ON

THE WORLD WIDE WEB/ INTERNET TO US BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY EVER SET FOOT IN OUR BUILDING

TOGETHER, WE CAN CELEBRATE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THIS CHURCH WHO MAKE STELLAR CONTRIBUTIONS

TO MONTBELLO, DENVER, COLORADO AND BEYOND....WE ARE A PASSIONATE PEOPLE WHO STILL BELIEVE IN

DOING GOOD WORKS AND LETTING OUR LIGHT SHINE.......TAKING SERIOUSLY JESUS’ WORDS IN MATTHEW 5: 14-16

Matthew 5:14–16 NRSV

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

NO MATTER WHAT ELSE LIES AHEAD AS THIS PANDEMIC GIVES WAY......LET US NEVER FORGET THE IMPACT WE CAN

HAVE WHEN WE LIVE OUT OUR MISSION: TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE TO BECOME BELIEVERS IN AND

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.......NOT JUST IN WORD BUT IN DEEDS TOO.......I HOPE WE WILL REMEMBER THE

GOOD WE’VE SEEN TOGETHER, THE GOOD WE’VE DONE AND THE GOOD WE’VE TRIED OUR BEST TO REACH AND

SHARE OVER THE COURSE OF MY 19 YEAR MINISTRY, THE LONGEST MINISTRY SERVED OF ANY PASTOR OF THE

UNITED CHURCH OF MONTBELLO........

THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL 50TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER, THAT INCLUDED YOUR RECOGNITION OF MY 15 YEAR

ANNIVERSARY TOO.....I WILL TREASURE THOSE MOMENTS IN MY HEART ALWAYS FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.........

I KNOW HOW MUCH GRIEF WE’VE SHARED OVER THESE YEARS, THE SOULS THAT HAVE GONE ON TO GLORY OR

MOVED AWAY OR JUST MOVED ON.....MY HOPE, FINALLY, IS THAT WE WILL NOT DEFINE OURSELVES BY OUR LOSSES

OR EVEN BY ANY MOOD OF SADNESS BUT RATHER THAT WE WILL REMEMBER THE WONDERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT

OF JOHANNES A. GAERTNER WHO WROTE:

TO SPEAK GRATITUDE IS COURTEOUS AND PLEASANT, TO ENACT GRATITUDE IS GENEROUS AND NOBLE, BUT

TO LIVE GRATITUDE IS A TOUCH OF HEAVEN.....

MAY OUR TIME TOGETHER ALWAYS GIVE US SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR, IN HEART, MIND, SPIRIT AND