October 1, 2008 by Andy Lunt.

Dear Glen Mar Friend,

Like many of you I have been extremely troubled by recent events affecting the economy. I’m concerned both on a professional level–knowing there are many families facing increasing struggles–and on a personal level with retirement looming.

It’s beginning to look as if Joan and I will be starting retirement the same way we began marriage–exploring “101 Ways to Prepare Hamburger,” the book that sustained us through the first few years of our married life.

I’ve been troubled as well by the inability or unwillingness of those in both the financial sector and in government to take  responsibility for their actions or to make hard decisions.

In the midst of these troubled times, though, I wanted to assure you that you are well represented by the lay leaders of Glen Mar Church. In particular, members of our Building Team have demonstrated an ability and a willingness to make the hard decisions so necessary to carry
us forward.

Members of the Building Team recently rejected as unrealistic the Guaranteed Maximum Price for construction of Phase 2 presented to them by our contractor.

We had hoped to realize certain economies by continuing to work with the company that oversaw construction of Phase 1. When it became apparent this was not going to happen, though, members of the Building Team made a decision to seek additional bids for Phase 2.

The result of this decision is to delay the start of construction on Phase 2, making it very unlikely the education building will be ready for occupancy by September 1 of 2009.

Because of implications for the Glen Mar Preschool, as well as plans for day care and before and after school care, this was a very difficult decision to make. However, members of the Building Team felt it was the right decision, and I agree.

Seeking additional competing bids will add time to the construction process for phase 2. But it
will help to assure that the best possible facility is provided for Glen Mar’s future needs while making the most effective use of available resources.

One of my bedrock beliefs is that God will always provide for what God wants God’s church to do. Often God provides through the leadership of folks like those on Glen Mar’s Building Team–who have put in countless hours over the past few years.  Sometimes God provides in a fashion and on a schedule different from those we would have chosen. But I’m grateful that God always provides.

You might want to know that God continues to provide growing opportunities for more people to experience God’s presence through our new building. Worship attendance for September averaged 646 per Sunday, the highest average ever for that month. And, since our move in mid July, more than 150 persons have visited Glen Mar for the first time. Give God the glory!

This week in worship we will attempt to do just
that, while joining with Christians around the world in observing World Communion Sunday. And we’ll be continuing our sermon series on “Downsizing Your Life,” built around the idea that we can achieve greater joy and fulfillment by getting rid of the Seven Deadly Sins and the power they hold over us.

See you in church!

In Christ,
andy

Posted in Phase 2 Info, Pastors Ponderings, New Cut Road Building Progress | No Comments »

September 25, 2008 by Andy Lunt.

Dear Glen Mar Friend,

The transition of settling into our new facility continues with lots of activity each week. This Sunday you may notice panels have been put in place on some of the rear walls in The Spirit Center. These are designed to improve the sound during worship. Work is continuing on the kitchen, and we hope to have it ready to use by sometime next month. And quite a bit of effort is going into getting the heating and air-conditioning systems better balanced in order to provide more even temperatures throughout the building. Members of the Glen Mar Trustees and Building Team are continuing to work with our contractor on the “punch list” of items that need to be completed/repaired/improved before we “sign off” on the building.

Even the re-aligned New Cut Road is showing signs of progress. You may have noticed paving completed to the intersection with existing New Cut Road. All that stands in the way of opening the new road (literally) at
this point is a utility pole from which Verizon still needs to move fiber optic wires.

While all these physical changes are continuing, several groups are beginning to shift attention to another major transition represented by my retirement. Just to reiterate what most folks already know, I am planning to retire after 42 years in ministry on June 30, 2009. Glen Mar’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) has already begun working on the process that will lead to the appointment of my successor, who will begin July 1, 2009.

Since Glen Mar has not experienced a change in lead pastors for nearly 30 years, and since many folks have come to Glen Mar from other faith traditions, I thought it might be helpful to review the United Methodist process for appointing pastors. The key is that pastors are appointed to particular churches by a bishop, in consultation with district superintendents who oversee a number of churches in a particular region.

Bishop John Schol, whom you may recall from his preaching for our Easter Services, will appoint Glen Mar’s next lead pastor. Unlike some other denominations, the congregation does not get to “choose” their pastor, nor visit other churches to hear potential pastors. Glen Mar’s SPRC does play a part in the appointment process, however, by preparing a “profile” of the congregation along with a statement of the particular gifts they believe will be helpful for the next lead pastor to possess.

Members of the SPRC will be meeting with our district superintendent, The Rev. Vivian McCarthy, this fall to go over the profile and discuss many aspects of Glen Mar and the kind of leader desired. This information will then be shared with Bishop Schol and the other superintendents by Rev. McCarthy.

Soon after the beginning of the new year, Bishop Schol and the superintendents will begin comparing Glen Mar’s profile with the personal profiles of all pastors who may be available for appointment. By February or March, Bishop Schol is likely to have made a selection. District Superintendent McCarthy will then bring that individual to a meeting with Glen Mar’s SPRC. After that meeting, both the SPRC and the individual pastor will have the opportunity to accept or decline the appointment. If both agree, Rev. McCarthy would then announce the appointment to the Glen Mar congregation during worship on the next Sunday.

You will be hearing much more about this process as it develops over the next 6 months. However, I wanted to outline at least the basics of the United Methodist appointment system and give some idea of how it will serve Glen Mar.

In the meantime, Joan and I continue to cherish our time with you and the excitement of all that God is doing in and through the members and ministries of Glen Mar Church.

See you in church!

Posted in New Cut Road, Staff News, Pastors Ponderings | No Comments »

July 13, 2008 by Andy Lunt.

Dear Glen Mar Friend,

What a special, glorious day today! After many years of praying, planning and working, we made the move today to our new home virtually without a hitch. It would be hard to imagine things going any better than they did today. Both our Service of Leave Taking on Glen Mar Road and the first worship in the Spirit Center praised and honored God, while moving and inspiring many people.

And the walk in between was surely something to be remembered for a long time. More than 500 persons gathered in the sanctuary where we have worshiped for the past 19 years to sing, pray, and give thanks to God for all God’s goodness to Glen Mar on that site. Then between 300 and 350 hardy souls–more than I would have anticipated–walked the one and one-quarter miles to our New Cut Road site on a beautiful, but hot, morning.

By the time worship began in the Spirit Center, our numbers had swelled to more than 700. And did we ever praise God! The music was great and inspiring, the Spirit was clearly present, and the preachers were absolutely magnificent. I’m very grateful to Taylor Burfeind, Hannah Hardin, and Paul Behrens for providing just the right message to get us launched from our new “base” on New Cut Road.

Such a powerful, moving, and nearly flawless morning didn’t just happen by accident. I want to express my thanks to the many, many people who put in countless hours of planning and work to make everything come together today the way it did. To the many musicians and worship leaders who offered their gifts to God, to those who helped move equipment, set up chairs, and provide refreshments, to those who served as greeters and directed traffic….to everyone who volunteered their time and effort, thank you very much.

And I especially want to thank the members of Glen Mar’s Transition Team who have worked hard for the last six months (and furiously for the last two weeks) to put together the complicated logistics for today’s move. Though much of their work was behind the scenes, what you saw and experienced today couldn’t have happened without their efforts.

In addition, I want to thank my colleagues of the Glen Mar Church staff. Without exception, they have worked themselves literally to the point of exhaustion (and sometimes sickness) for endless weeks trying to prepare for our move under trying circumstances and shifting dates. I trust you know this, but I just want to affirm publicly that God has been honored, and you have been well served, by the members of your church staff.

And, lastly, I want to thank you, the members and friends of Glen Mar Church. Nothing that occurred today would have been possible without your presence, your prayers, your gifts, and your service. Your support through this long (8-year) process has sustained me through many dark nights. And the promise of what lies ahead for us together fills me with energy and enthusiasm for this next year.

As I said this morning during the Service of Leave Taking, “God is good all the time; but God has been extraordinarily good to Glen Mar Church.” What a great time to be part of Glen Mar! To God be the glory; great things God has done.

See you in church!

Posted in New Cut Road | 1 Comment »

July 9, 2008 by Andy Lunt.

I am grateful for the honor and blessing of sharing with so many last Sunday our last full worship services at our current site on Glen Mar Road. We had the opportunity to remember with joy and thanksgiving the many saints of Glen Mar whose faith and commitment have meant so much. And we were able to reflect on the way God, the Prodigal Sower, has sown seeds that have produced fruit that resulted in nearly 5,000 members, 1,500 baptisms and 500 weddings at Glen Mar over the last 54 years.

Now, I’m grateful for the honor and blessing of sharing with you our move to the new site on New Cut Road this Sunday, July 13. While I regret that some will be, unavoidably out of town and unable to participate, I’m looking forward to joining with many in this historic occasion.

Remember, we will gather for a single brief service of leave-taking at our current site beginning at 9:15 am. Following conclusion of the service, all who want to walk to the new site will assemble on the upper parking lot in preparation for the walk.

At exactly 10:00 am, the walk will begin. Our plan is to be led by the cross, carried by 8 persons at a time, with individuals stepping in to relieve others along the way so everyone who wants to will have a chance to carry the cross. We will also be carrying hymnals, paraments, candles, and other elements that we use for worship. Our procession will be led by a bagpiper. After all walkers and drivers have arrived at the New Cut Road site, we will have a service of celebration in the Spirit Center. This service will begin at 11:00 am. Refreshments will be available prior to the service time. Because of the central role youth play in the Glen Mar congregation, and because ministries with youth and children have been such a high priority in our decision to relocate, I have asked a team of individuals representing our youth ministry to deliver the first sermon in the Spirit Center.

There are several options for parking. You may want to drop other family members off at the Glen Mar Road site, then drive to New Cut and park, taking the shuttle back for the 9:15 Service of Leave Taking. Or, you can leave your car at Glen Mar Road and take the shuttle back there following conclusion of the 11:00 service.

Please be aware that–as exciting as it will be to worship in the Spirit Center for the first time–the building is not yet fully ready. Over the coming weeks the work of finishing and furnishing will continue as we prepare for our grand opening on Sunday, September 7. It will be a bit like the first night in a new house with just a mattress and card table, while still waiting for the rest of the furniture to arrive, curtains to be hung and pictures put on the wall. Nevertheless, it will be a great joy, after all the years of praying and preparing to be able to worship in the Spirit Center.

I know you will want to be part of this day of celebration. So that you will have all the details regarding timing and logistics of the walk-especially information about parking and transportation-today I mailed a first-class letter with this same information and I’ve enclosed with the letter a detailed description of logistics for Sunday prepared by members of our Transition Team. Please call the church office or email me with any questions.

See you in church!

Posted in Pastors Ponderings, New Cut Road Building Progress | No Comments »

June 21, 2008 by Andy Lunt.

It has become clear this week that we will not be able to have occupancy of our new facility in time to allow for the last services here on June 29 and first services there on July 6.

I have delayed sending out this week’s Pastor’s Ponderings hoping to have more definite information to share. That has not happened, however.

So, rather than risk announcing new dates that may have to be changed once again, we will wait for more definite information before announcing a new schedule. Once that information is available, we will announce a new schedule on the Glen Mar web site, in a special Pastor’s Ponderings email, with a first-class mailing to every home, and-of course-in worship.

It is our hope that a schedule can be announced this next week.

For now, we do know the following:

a. Worship services will continue to be held at the current site and current times through at least July 6.

b. The previously announced new worship times will take effect after the move to the new site.

c. The July 4 Church Picnic will be held as planned at the new site. This event is open to all, church members and community.

d. Because of the uncertainty, we have decided to hold Vacation Bible School and the first three weeks of Summer Camps at the current Glen Mar Road site.

At this point, the most important thing any of us can be doing is praying. I encourage you to pray for timely completion of the final construction details, and successful inspections that will enable us to have occupancy of the new building. Equally importantly, though, I hope you will continue to pray for the ministries our new facility will support and–especially–the many people who will come to know God’s love through Jesus as we grow in our ability to be part of God’s mission in the world.

On another–though related–issue, it appears that my beard is not in jeopardy at this point. Currently, pledges to the Capital Campaign stand at somewhere between $2.0 and $2.1 million…which is a long way from $3 million. Nearly 100 families have still not made commitments, however, so we expect this amount to grow. If you are among those who haven’t yet sent in your commitment, I hope you’ll make it a priority this week.

See you in church!

Posted in Pastors Ponderings, New Cut Road Building Progress | No Comments »