We are advancing toward two very special holiday times—Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love the opportunities that these days bring for us to do some reflecting and to experience special time with people who mean so much to us.

Reflecting!

As you come to Thanksgiving Day, and as you journey through the Advent Season, may you have a renewed sense of gratitude for all that Christ has done for you.  He is God with us!  He is Christ for us!  He is our beloved savior and friend!  May you again offer yourself as a living sacrifice presenting all you have and are to our great God.

Experiencing!

There will be a flurry of activities over the course of the next six weeks - special meals to prepare; services to plan; gifts to buy; miles to travel; people with whom to laugh and share life.  I hope you will journey with your eyes open to the opportunities surrounding you to share the love of Christ.  These weeks can fly by or we can intentionally slow our pace to see and to minister.  I long for you to experience Christ and people all around in a fresh way.

Sharing!

I would remind you that our General Superintendents have asked us on Thanksgiving Sunday (November 21) to raise the largest single offering for World Evangelism in the history of the Church of the Nazarene. This is in addition to your weekly commitment to pass on 5.5% of your offering for this cause.  With our new formula we have cut, by several million dollars, our support of world evangelism.  The impact is great, so this single offering could help us maintain our current commitments to the 156 world areas where we are presently serving.  I trust you already have this well in hand and are planning to invite your people to share in this exciting endeavor.  I look forward to the reports of what God has moved us to do in living out the commandment “to go.”  For more information about this offering challenge, click here and read about “Challenge 2010” on the Global Church’s website.

Notes and Transitions!

Whenever I write I try to bring you up to date on changes that are taking place on our district.

• Curt Blackwill (Lewiston Orchards) has been approved by the Clergy Development Office as a Health Care/Hospice Chaplain
• I'm impressed by what I've seen about a resource from the Nazarene Publishing House entitled “Ashes to Fire.”  It is a devotional and preaching journey that congregations can take from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost Sunday. Hence the name—Ashes to Fire!  I like that!  You may want to take a look at it and begin to think of a time of special congregational focus through Lent and on to Pentecost.
• Scott St. Mary has resigned at Ephrata.  He and Vicky are planning to move to Nampa in the near future.  Jim Carlson is doing interim work there.
• Stacy Hillman has resigned at Union Gap.  In working with the board, they have determined that they are ready to close.  The DAB is working with Stacy and other leaders in the area about transitioning this location into a compassionate ministry center.
• Kory (Rhonda) Heal has come to pastor our Cheney Church.  I’ll be installing him on November 14^th.
• Pastor Brent and Marty Cobb (Lewiston First) have moved to Nampa where they will enjoy their retirement.  Jerry McConnell will be doing pulpit supply.
• Luis (Lisa) Rodriguez will begin ministering in Wapato after the first of the year.
• So, here are the churches I'm working with (some delayed as we have long term interims in place): Deer Lake Lakeside, Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Grandview, Hayden True North, Lewiston First
• With pastoral transition comes Cluster Coach transitions, so here are the new coaches: Mike Malmin (Wenatchee) Northwest cluster; Steve Thomas (Lewiston 1^st) Southeast cluster; Eric Stilwell (Zillah) Southwest cluster

Retirement Notice!

I have recently received notice from Joyce Chitwood, announcing her retirement as our district accountant.  I am deeply indebted to the excellent service she has provided the district and our local churches across the past 11 years.  This was her second term of service as she had earlier served Northwest District in this capacity.  I have begun a search for her replacement and would invite your prayers as we undertake this important task.  I'm also open to any suggestions of qualified people whom you feel should be considered.  While Joyce gave a 30 day notice, she will allow us time to find and train her replacement as we move forward.

Reading!

I hope  the holiday season will allow you some down time and that you might pick up a book or two.

• I'm currently reading Almost Christian by Kenda Creasy Dean.  The subtitle is “what the faith of our teenagers is telling the American church.”  The thesis is that our youth are very spiritual.  However, they don’t take Christianity as something of greater worth than other things in their lives for one primary reason—their adult mentors don’t take faith seriously.  It is an eye opening reminder that the church needs to be filled with disciples—Christ followers—who model the Christlike life.  It is also a reminder that building silos in the church is detrimental.  We need to be a gathered group of people who shape and help each other on the journey.
• I've been challenged and helped by The Baal Conspiracy written by Al Truesdale.  This is an insightful look at the variety of idols, substitutes for God, that people dealt with throughout scripture.  Truesdale comes to remind us they are still with us and are tempting us and our people.  This is an excellent preaching resource and could be a class study as well.
• I've picked up and started reading To Change the World by James Hunter and Extraordinary Leadership by Roberta Gilbert.  I’ll let you know in future days what I'm learning from these authors.
• I'm working with Nehemiah and Ephesians in my devotional time.  Both are challenging me.  Nehemiah in his leadership in rebuilding the wall and Paul in his challenge of what it means to be the church.  Thank God for his powerful life giving word.

January!

Again this year Robbie and I are inviting all pastors and spouses to meet with us for fun and conversation.  We will be meeting at Pinelow.  This is the one event we do each year based on church size.  Here are the dates and the breakdowns (attend the gathering that lines up with your average worship attendance reported last assembly year).  Please make this a priority in your planning.  We value this time with you and believe we are better as pastors and stronger as a district when we purposefully come together.  Our gathering begins at 7:00 on Sunday evening and concludes by 2:30 on Monday afternoon.  Registration will be available in the coming weeks.

• January 9-10 - churches that averaged 70-175
• January 16-17 - churches that averaged 1-45
• January 23-24 - churches that averaged 176+
• January 30-31 - churches that averaged 46-69

Wesley Conference!

Let me encourage you to take advantage of the 2011 Wesley Center Conference at NNU.  Scheduled for February 10-12 at College church, the conference entitled “The Bible Tells Me So” will bring together scholars and participants to remind us again of the primary role scripture plays in our work as pastors.  You will be enriched and challenged by attending.  You can register by going to NNU’s website at http://www.nnu.edu/wesley2011.

Enjoy the journey to Thanksgiving and through advent.  You are always in my prayers.

Randy