As we approach Thanksgiving I encourage us all to take some intentional time to count our blessings and give thanks to God.  In the words of an old gospel song, "Count your blessings name them one by one.  Count your blessings see what God has done. .....".   What a great idea!   I suggest you take a pen or a keypad and list the many blessings in your life.   You will be astonished by the results.    Go ahead, carve out a block of time and start listing the long list of blessings, name them one by one.      You may choose to start listing the blessings randomly.   Others may choose a more guided approach.   If so, below is a suggested partial list of categories.  

It is always a blessing to be around a person who has the gift of encouragement.    Persons who have this God-given gift walk into a room and the mood brightens up.    They have the unique ability to speak life-giving words!   The words of affirmation they share can keep you going for days.    

The writer of the Book of Hebrews (chapter 11) lists a litany of those who faithfully followed God - Abraham and Sarah; Moses, David, Rahab, etc.      And, then, chapter 12 begins with these awesome words relaying a glorious truth:  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress.   And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.   We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."

This Sunday at ORUMC we wrap up a series entitled "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" by looking at EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY.    In the Bible we are told about the poor widow who donated two pennies to the offering at the Temple.    Just two cents!   How could this be an account of extravagant generosity?     Jesus tells us that because this poor woman gave from her heart - the right motive, which Jesus could see, and because she gave sacrificially (actually she gave all the money she had) she had given more extravagantly than the wealthy around her that day who had  probably given hundreds of dollars!

We continue the series "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" this weekend with our topic this week being "Risk-Taking Mission and Service."   Congregations and individual Christians that are vibrant and healthy engage not only in "in-reach" but also outreach in Jesus' name.      Like the Dead Sea - that only receives water and has no channel of outflow - churches and Christians spiritually die without engagning in outreach and service for Christ's sake. 

This weekend ORUMC begins a series based upon United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase's book FIVE PRACTICES OF FRUITFUL CONGREGATIONS.   Our topic this week is radical hospitality, or as we at ORUMC call it "Christ-like Hospitality".    Radical, Christ-like hospitality is inviting, welcoming and caring for people in Jesus' name.   It is offering a gracious welcome and showing acts of mercy to the stranger/guest because we have received the very same by Jesus Christ.   People need to experience first-hand and see in action Jesus Christ in flesh and blood every day reality before they will take a further step of trust into a Christian community.    Radical, Christ-like hospitality offers an opportunity and responsibility for Christians to be Christ to the guest....to the stranger....to the seeker.  It invites another to begin the journey of faith with a specific community of believers, who realize and affirm that they have been so blessed to receive from Jesus undeserved mercy and grace that they cannot help but share this same welcoming grace

Today marks an unimaginable tragedy in our country.    The mere mention of two numbers - 9 - 11 - and immediately everyone is on the same paragraph of the same page.  No doubt we all remember where we were and what we were doing on that fatal morning.   I was gathered with a group of community pastors for Tuesday morning Bible study at Rudy Hardy's home.   As soon as I returned from  Bible study and walked into the church office I was informed of the diabolical  terrorist acts.   We gathered around a television set at the church watching in shock and disbelief as camera scenes showed unthinkable destruction, carnage and human suffering.

This Monday we observe Labor Day...a time to give God thanks for work and thanks for those who work faithfully and consistently to make this country and the world a better place in which to live.     Let us also this Labor Day be mindful of those who are without work - those amidst the unemployed and underemployed ranks.   We also pray that God will lend them strength and encouragement as they are in this waiting period of their life and living and that appropriate employment doors may open in a timely manner.

It is customary for us at Oak Ridge UMC to have a "singing Sunday" every 5th Sunday.   That is, we do a lot of extra singing during the worship services on these particular Sundays, and the sermon is in song (after some scripture reading we sing more hymns/songs).   I think this provides a nice variety for our congregation and  for all who attend and participate.   In fact, many of us look forward to the 5th-Sunday-Singings so that we can spend additional time in musical praise to our Lord.

Our God-given ORUMC VISION (See vision statement on this website) has directed us down some exciting and God-honoring paths as we seek to make followers of Jesus Christ!  As one of the pastors of this congregation, I am so thankful for and proud of the family of Christians known as Oak Ridge United Methodist Church!     We are experiencing some grace-filled and Holy Spirit ministry momentum days.    For instance, even in the midst of an economic downturn and a tough environment the people of ORUMC continue to reach out in Christ's name in worship, ministry and mission.  Hot meals have been served at the homeless shelter in Greensboro, educational supplies have been gathered and given through VBS, 50 stoves and water filter kits were purchased, transported, and installed in Guatemala, disaster recovery teams have helped at the Gulf Coast, ORUMC has continued to provide a scholarship for an Africa University student,  47 of our youth engaged in mission projects at the N.C. Coast and the list goes on and on.    A 4th worship service - Refinery (for young adults ages 18-30) has begun and is currently averaging 17 in attendance.  More than 250 persos are part of a TLC small group this Fall as at least 26 small groups will be meeting - fellowshipping, praying, sharing in Bible study and supporting a mission/outreach.     As I write this we are at  93% of  where we should be concerning our  MINISTRY INVESTMENT PLAN (Budget).    The congregation's faithful financial stewardship has enabled us to do the above ministries/missions and more.   We have also added a music staff person (Tami Fields) who will begin this month as our new Associate Director of Music.    This is a result of the ORUMC congregational survey.   The survey results were compiled and served as a guide for hiring this new staff person.