Burt's Bytes (Nov 18, 2011)

I walked into a major retail store last week and just stood at my shopping cart as I studied my list of items and developed a shopping game plan.  A store employee approached me, probably because I was blocking the major retail traffic inflow into the establishment, and asked if I needed anything.

“No thanks, “I replied, “I’m just trying to get a plan in my head of where everything is on my list.”

The employee said, “Well, we’ve moved a lot of things around getting ready for Christmas, so let us know if we can help you find anything.”

Our renovation and construction are bringing many changes. Here is a brief list of some other upcoming changes at PSUMC to help you know where things are.

Parking in 2012

As I announced Sunday, we will lose the privilege of parking on the Amarillo College lot directly west of the church across Polk Street for about 4 months beginning sometime in January 2012.  Our staff and lay leadership are working on a parking plan for weekday, weeknight, weekend and Sunday needs.  Our goal is to provide the plan to the entire congregation in a published brochure and on the internet by Christmas of this year.

In June of 2012 when all of the projects are completed, the continuity of parking lots, access, and landscaping will be wonderful.  We will do everything we can to work around the progress until then.  Please remember that you can submit your concerns and ideas to the planning process on the webpage.

2012 Budget

If you have completed your 2012 pledge card, thank you.  Please contact the business office if you have any questions or need help completing your pledge card.

Our 2012 budget will be “flat”, which means that we plan to have the same budget for 2012 that we had in 2011.  Our staff adjustments have enabled this remarkable step – just consider the increased anticipated costs related to our new facilities and fixed cost increases associated with having a facility and staff.

Staff Updates in Music Ministry

We have been so blessed by Andrea Cruz and her leadership of the Sanctuary and Youth Choirs as our Interim Director of Music Ministry. 

The SPRC is delighted to announce that Mr. Mike Ware will be joining the staff of PSUMC as Director of Music Ministry.  Andrea Cruz will continue to lead our Youth Choir.  We will be welcoming Mike to PSUMC and our church staff in January 2012.  Mike’s credentials in choral leadership in churches are impressive, having served most recently as Director of Music and Worship at First UMC Houston.  He is also a very recognized leader within the Texas Music Educators Association.  Mike will arrive in Amarillo in late December.

Ken Knight, Director of Children’s Ministries, will continue to lead the children’s choirs through 2011.  In 2012 we will search for someone to lead the children’s choirs.

Christmas Schedule

     Some additional information about our worship services on Christmas Eve.

5:30 Family Friendly service- families will be invited to bring their children and worship together.  The service will be about 45 minutes long and will NOT BE A QUIET service.  It is very important that we all understand that a Family Service for Christmas Eve will be filled with the joyful noises of children.

7:30 Choir and Holy Communion– this is a celebrative traditional service with the full choir, a Christmas Homily, Holy Communion and Candlelight.

11:00 Hymns and Holy Communion– this is a reflective traditional service as we approach the midnight hour which includes familiar Hymns and Holy Communion and Candlelight.

     Some additional information about our worship services on Christmas Day.

10:55 Christmas Day – we will have just one service Christmas Day and we invite you to wear your Christmas sweater to worship.  Our worship will be filled with Christmas Hymns and the stories behind each hymn.  At 9:30 we will have a Christmas potluck in the Church Parlor.

I hope that this is helpful information.  I believe that the need for all of this information reflects a church that is actively engaged in ministry.  I invite you to begin praying and thinking about friends, neighbors, family, coworkers, or people in your neighborhood you have never reached to meet that you could invite to one of the special holiday events.