Change!

There are many changes taking place right now here at FUMC Artesia! We have several positions on our church staff that are changing as well as we are receiving in a new pastor at the beginning of July. With these changes, there is sadness for those leaving us, but at the same time joy for their new stages of life! For myself I will greatly miss those leaving but I am also looking forward to the changes that God has in store for us! While we are talking on change there are two other changes taking place that will effect the Youth Program here at FUMC Artesia! (No, I am not leaving) One, we have a Summer Youth Staffer coming to help us this summer!! Jeff Heidenreich will be assisting me in all of the workings of this summer!! I am crazy excited about this!! Secondly, as those of you who were at youth last week know, we are changing the name of our Youth Group from Chi Alpha to Sycamore Student Ministry (and for those of us who hold a special place in our hearts for Chi Alpha you can call our Youth Group, The Youth Group Formerly Known as Chi Alpha!).

I am sure many of you have the same look on your face that the youth had last week, and maybe even some of you have the same reaction. Sycamore?????? Scott, what are you thinking??? Or, maybe Scott how did you come up with that?? Well my answer is simply, God! There are those times when I am in prayer that God just lays on my heart heavy something and a few weeks ago while driving back from Texas God pressed this on my heart! It was such a strong pressing that I got my iPod and in the notes section wrote down the name and the 4 main foundations of why we will be called Sycamore. Here are those 4 foundational points!

1. God is at Work- God is at work in the World, and in each of our individual lives!
2. We are small-We too are wee people like Zaccheus when compared to God! We have to lead lives that take into account the Bigger Picture of God's story!
   
3. We Need a Clear View- We have to climb above the things of this world that keep us from seeing God!
4. Wanted-God desires relationship with us despite our reputation as sinners and He calls us from the lives we lead to follow Him!

So over the next month I will take one of these foundational points and expand on it a little! So come back and walk with us through this time of change!
blessings
sg