Pastor’s Report - Mary Ricketts
Vestal United Methodist Church - 2007

I believe that Vestal United Methodist Church's "mission statement or goals" is the same as any other United Methodist church in the area. We want to welcome people into our church, help them and ourselves grow in faith and reach out beyond the walls of our church with God's message of hope and grace. Vestal UMC has always been a church that has challenged itself to be more effective in reaching out and growing in an understanding of God's call in their lives.

The places where I have been involved in helping Vestal UMC live faithfully in God's call are in the areas of worship leadership, teaching, and pastoral care. I believe that Sunday morning worship is the most effective venue for outreach to visitors and members alike. I believe we have transformational worship services that inspire, challenge and encourage folks in another week of their faith journey. I enjoy Mike's preaching, as well as the incredible music program offered through our Sunday morning worship experiences. Mike has set up intentional avenues to reach out to those who visit our church, so that they can feel included and informed about our priorities as a faith community.

One area where I have helped VUMC reach its goals of inclusion and care is through the outreach ministries group. Soon we will sponsor our first, mid-day, mid-week worship service to reach out to those who have difficultly in attending a Sunday morning worship service. We will also provide a time for refreshments and fellowship following the half-hour worship service. This priority first came to our attention through the Quest for Quality team.

Another great joy for me at VUMC is teaching. In every year of my ministry at Vestal I have taught many groups a variety of subjects. Currently I am teaching an adult Sunday School class and a Thursday afternoon Bible Study. I have led a short term study in the Questers Sunday School class in each year of my ministry and will lead a new study after the first of the year. That study will be based on the lectures of Dominic Crossan. The challenge of my Thursday afternoon class was finding a space to teach a class of 30 people.

Also this year I began my Doctor of Ministry Degree in Worship, Spirituality and Preaching at Theological School at Drew University. Vestal UMC has been extremely supportive of this new step in my life. They are excited to work with me over the next three years as we grow through my classes and readings for this degree.