Pastor Ponderings
A Message from Cherie ...
As many of you may know this summer has been costly for the church because of flood damage downstairs in early May and a power outage in early June that caused our air conditioners to malfunction and to need parts replaced. It remains to be seen if insurance will cover all the cost of these expenses. As we consider the best and wisest use of our facility, a group appointed by the Trustees, the Building Priority Committee raised the question of closing off the third floor to save on utility costs and maintenance of the air conditioning/heating unit. It seems that to close it off and shut down that unit might save some on utilities. The cost would come, however, in the deterioration of the walls, floor, cosmetic and structural aspects of the third floor. Also, to close it off would mean the loss of availability for Sunday School, Study Groups/Classes, overnight groups, or groups in the community doing ministry for the community. We will close it off if it becomes necessary but many of us believe it would be better stewardship of our facility to find ways to use the upstairs to benefit the church and the community. One such opportunity became availabel this past week.
I received a call from the Executive Director of the Society of St. Andrew to house their Tennessee Regional Office in one of our upstairs rooms. This is a national produce salvage program that works on the local level by gleaning crops and fruit from farms and orchards after harvest, and by receiving and packaging foods which are commercially unmarketable yet perfectly good for distribution to food banks, soup kitchens, shelters and distribution agencies to feed the hungry. This agency began as a grassroots ministry 31 years ago and is responsible for the Potato Drop Project, Seed Potato/Produce Projects and Harvest of Hope.
After consideration by the Trustees, the Building Priority Committee and several other leaders in the church, we have decided to allow them to use our space. The plan is for them to use a room on the third floor to set up an office that will house two staff persons along with office equipment. From there they will direct the work of the Society of St. Andrew throughout the Tennessee area. The Society of St. Andrew is an Advanced Special for the United Methodist Church. The Advance is an offical program of The United Methodist Church for voluntary, designated, second-mile giving. Through The Advance, United Methodist annual conferences, districts, local churches, and organizations and individuals and families - may choose to support particular, approved mission programs or mission personnel with their financial gifts. One hundred percent of all Advance giving goes to the chosen mission project or ministry.
This opportunity is the answer to prayer for many of us who have envisioned the use of our facility by non-profit agencies needing office space. We believe that by housing this kind of agency in our facility we are being good stewards of our building as well as providing space for an important ministry to our community. Be on the lookout for our new friends upstairs. Lynette Johnson is the Regional Office Director for the Tennessee Regional Office of SOSA (Society of St. Andrew). She along with another staff person will be in the building Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:00. Introduce yourself and welcome them to Nashville and to Inglewood UMC. And let us be in prayer for them as they startup this ministry that will help feed hungry people right here in our community and beyond.
Blessings,
Cherie
