Friends,
This past week has given us a beautiful picture of who we are as a church, grounded in worship, shaped by mission, and deeply invested in people at every stage of life.
I want to begin with heartfelt gratitude to everyone who served at our warming center. Through the faithful efforts of our congregation and our partners from Bulloch VOAD, Pittman Park became a place of refuge during dangerously cold nights. You helped create a space that was safe and warm, but also genuinely welcoming, a place where people were known by name, cared for, and well fed. This is what it looks like when the church shows up with compassion and love, when we are present and connected to our community. Thank you for giving your time, your energy, and your hearts to serve some of our most vulnerable neighbors. You lived the gospel in powerful and tangible ways.
That same spirit of care and faithfulness continues this weekend as Stephanie and I travel with 26 youth and adults to Rock the Universe in Orlando, Florida. This trip is more than a getaway. It is an intentional opportunity for our youth to connect with God through worship and to deepen their relationships with one another through fellowship, laughter, and shared experiences. Moments like these often become important markers in a young person’s journey of faith, and we are grateful for the adults who are investing so faithfully in the spiritual lives of our students. I invite you to pray for safe travel, open hearts, and meaningful encounters with God.
While we are away, we are grateful to welcome Rev. Doreen Smalls as our preacher for both the 9:00 am and 11:00 am worship services this Sunday. Rev. Smalls is an ordained elder in the South Georgia Annual Conference and currently serves as Regional Vice President and Director of Lending at the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in local church and conference leadership, including service as District Superintendent in both the Southwest and Northwest Districts, as well as Associate Director of Connectional Ministries.
Rev. Smalls has also represented the South Georgia Annual Conference as a delegate to both the General Conference and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, serving as head of our conference delegation. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to the mission and connectional life of the United Methodist Church. With a background in healthcare finance and management and a pastoral heart shaped by years of ministry, she brings wisdom, clarity, and grace to the pulpit. I know her message will be a blessing to our congregation.
As I reflect on this past week, from the volunteers working at our warming center, to our youth preparing for worship and fellowship, to the gifts of community and worship, I am reminded once again that Pittman Park is a church that shows up. You show up to serve. You show up to worship. You show up for God, for one another, and for your neighbors. Thank you for being the church in ways that truly matter!
God bless,Jonathan
For Jesus. For People. For Community.