Thank You, Marjorie

As we enter the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, we have much to be thankful for at Market Street. We have almost completed the first renewal phase for the church building. Cedar shake shingles were added to the front of the church throughout a very, very hot summer and the Rose Window is being repaired at this moment. I miss the Rose Window, the beautiful colors and how it mutes the sunshine coming into our large window on Sunday mornings.

We began a new Sunday School class specifically designed for people who are attending Market Street and a United Methodist Church for the first time in their lives. We have had as many as 12 people on a Sunday morning. The class meets upstairs and is called Faith Talk.

Once again, through the help of so many people, the church bazaar was a success, despite not having as many people attend as last year. We have many people serving Christ is ways we are not even aware. Gratitude has been expressed and appreciated by the many families we have served and shared meals with in our fellowship hall following a funeral or memorial service. Thank you to both men and women who have cooked meals and faithfully served in our kitchen.

Last Sunday, I experienced so much fun and excitement from many of our Junior High United Methodist Youth fellowship at the bowling alley.These kids know how to bowl and have fun, in addition to their experiencing a youth retreat Sunday before last at Camp Occohannock.

In September we began a spiritual reading class on a book titled: Soul Feast:An Introduction to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie Thompson. We held two sessions, for two different groups of people on 9 consecutive Wednesday mornings and evenings, which catered to individuals and their busy work schedules. In the morning hour we shared with as many as 10 and in the evening hour we shared with as many as 12 people. Most everyone who began the study, remained faithful to the group throughout the three months of our time together.

It is very hard to explain what occurred within these two groups in relation to their coming to know each other. I witnessed new friendships emerge, faithful levels of their being honest and open in relation to faith, and people trusting one another as they shared life experiences.We discussed matters in relation to prayer, worship, fasting, and hospitality. We proved that reading and studying matters of the Christian can be fun in our sharing with each other. We ended our sessions as we concluded the book with people wanting more of the same type of educational experiences within the Christian faith, which we will indeed have and share in the winter/spring season.Stayed tuned as we will announce our new study programs.

We have much to share and be thankful for at Market Street.Whereas people are immediately attracted and intrigued at the historic and beautiful nature of our building facilities, now with signs assisting new comers with directions, remember it remains the people inside the building who are our most treasured and appreciated asset.Believe it or not, there are readers of the Market Street Harbinger, who may not be able to attend Market Street due to age and illness.We also have readers, friends and in-active members in our community who enjoy reading this publication.If you have not attended worship for some reason or another, please consider the Advent/Christmas season as a time to re-new your commitment with God and your faith community at Market Street.It is our responsibility and our mission to Share the Love of Christ with EVERYONE.A meaningful and spirited holiday season to all.