2016 has been an interesting year again we have lost many members, and members’ family to death.  So our membership and average attendance continues to decline.  However in spite of this trend, we remain in good shape financially.  We are facing the fact that the cost of maintenance and necessary repairs, some of which should have been done in the past, on our building will continue to raise, and take a large portion of our resources.  So far we have been able to pay these costs with interest earnings; however we may have to spend principle for future needs.

Things we continue to do well; our music department adds so much to our worship; our United Methodist Women remain a vital and strong unit; our Missions Committee again this year donated to each of the thirty-eight Holston Conference Projects under the four categories-International Advance (5), U.S. Advance (11), UMCOR (5), and Conference Advance (17).  We also participated in the Annual Conference Hands-On Mission Project, Charge for Children Offering, and had a good response for the Cleaning Buckets after the flood in West Virginia.  All of this is in addition to our Health and Welfare Assistance Program each Tuesday that makes a real difference to those in need.  Our congregation as a whole also supports the “Angel Tree” program, the Christmas Shoe Drive, Back Pack Buddies in Galax, and Grayson County.  We also contributed to the Tri-Area Pregnancy Resource Center’s “Baby Bottle” campaign.  Each of these programs has an impact on our local community.   We also pay our Conference Tithes and District asking’s each year.

We also reach out to our community by allowing the use of our building by the following groups: Mountain Top School, Alcoholics’ Anonymous, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

Perhaps our greatest success continues to be our Kids’ Junction Ministry.  This provides diapers, formula, baby food, school supplies, and clothing for children’s sizes 0 to 8.  These items are not covered by SNAP benefits so they greatly help those families in need.  In preparation for the opening of this school year, our congregation provided fifty-nine back packs filled with needed school supplies.  Way to go!

As the words of a song from my youth said; “The times are a-changing.”  We at First Galax United Methodist Church earnestly seek to know what God’s will for us is in these changing times.  Please join us in this endeavor.

Richard

We have a date of October 25^th for our 2016 Charge Conference.  This is the yearly meeting of the church where church officers are elected and the pastor’s salary is set for the next year.  Our new District Superintendent, the Rev. Kimberly M. Goddard, will be continuing the tradition of having Cluster Charge Conferences where several different churches come together.  This is a good way to hear what other churches are doing as well as having a time of fellowship with other United Methodist believers.

However getting ready for Charge Conferences takes a lot of work; all Committee Chairs need to schedule a Committee meeting in September.  To plan your ministry for next year as well as submit your budget request for the Finance Committee.  If we do not hear from any committee their budget will remain the same as this year.

Also the instrument for you to volunteer to serve, or to nominate someone to serve, will be available soon.  Please prayerfully consider where God wants you to be in ministry next year.  If you are currently serving and do not wish to do so next year, fill out the form, and return it to the pastor.  If I do not hear from you, you will be elected again for the next year.

As we have fewer and fewer active members, please do consider how you can serve.

Richard