Congregational Unity and the Nature of Consensus

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

(Ps. 133:1)

For the Psalmist, unity is not simply good, it is very good! Unity in a congregation is always a very good goal. As your pastor, I pray and seek daily to foster spiritual unity in our congregation. Unity is not the same as uniformity. We are not all the same (i.e., uniformity), but we can be a congregation living in unity. Unity comes from our shared relationship with Jesus Christ and desire to make disciples for Jesus Christ. We may differ in many ways, but we can live as a congregation connected in spiritual unity through Christ.

In the decision-making life of our congregation, we always strive for consensus. Consensus does not mean that we all agree on the same thing. Agreement is the step beyond consensus (Amos 3:3).  Consensus is achieved when the majority decides an issue and the dissenting minority commits to not sabotaging the decision or harming the unity of the body or scheming to over-throw the discerned will of the majority because of a personal agenda. Getting to consensus often means letting go of a desire to get what one wants in a certain situation for the sake of congregational unity. Sometimes it is hard to accept some things but we learn to accept people and their decisions for the sake of unity. We trust God in the process. This has been an important life-lesson that I’ve learned as I have lived in Christian congregations.

In New Testament terms, I often invoke the “Gamaliel Test” when my position is not the majority position in a congregation. Remember Gamaliel in Acts 5? When the Jewish community in Jerusalem was attacking the new Christian faith, Gamaliel gave those Jews some important advice. He said that “if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!” (Acts 5:38, 39). Consensus means that you will accept someone else’s decision without ill-feeling or animosity. Because of our inbreed desire to control others, the ability to accept other people’s decisions with whom we live in the spirit of Gamaliel is a good indicator of spiritual maturity. Consensus is not agreement. That is a step beyond consensus. Consensus is achievable in a congregation and thus a congregation can be a place of spiritual unity.

We have an amazing amount of unity in our congregation. Let’s continue to protect our unity by accepting consensus and seeking to walk in agreement. How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! (Ps. 133:1)

With Confidence in Christ,

Pastor Jeff

Help us kick off an awesome autumn at Wesley Memorial! Our programming officially begins on September 21, although we will resume our Wednesday meals on September 14. For a full list of all programming offers click below.

On Wednesday evenings we serve a warm, home-cooked meal beginning at 5:15 p.m. in our Dining Hall. The cost is free, but donations are accepted. Following dinner is a wide range of opportunities for learning and spiritual growth. 

To register for classes, please call Cynthia Reddick in our church office (336.884.2204), email the facilitator (their names are listed with each class), or you may visit our website. Some of our group study books require payment, but we are always willing to help with scholarships. 

September 14

Dinner is served! Our menu is roasted chicken with scalloped potatoes, corn, and dessert. We also offer kid-friendly options. 

Tonight welcome and celebrate our newest members! Following dinner will be a special performance for all ages starting at 6:45 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

Rise Against Hunger

Sunday, September 18 at 2 p.m.

Sign-up genius coming soon.

Soul of the Community Dinner

Friday, September 30, 2022

Tickets will go on sale the week of September 5. 

Please mark you calendars and plan to attend. All proceeds will benefit the Macedonia Family Resource Center. 

Join the Wesley Memorial Kids Text

List: Text WMKIDS to 94000

Call, text, or email anytime! Let us know how we can serve your family and pray for you

Ann Marie Chilton & April Maines & the Children's Ministry Team

Click here to view the Wesley Memorial Kids Fall 2022 Calendar 

SENIOR PASTOR BIBLE STUDY

The Book of Acts: Living the Spirit-Filled Life

Wednesdays, 9:30 or 6:45pm

Begins on September 21 (Dining Hall and Media Center)

This New Testament Book describes the acts of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the early Christians. It describes how the early church learned to overcome spiritual and cultural resistance to their message, a message very relevant for us today. 

A warm continental breakfast will be served at the 9:30 session and our evening meal precedes the 6:45 session. Meals are free, but donations are accepted.

To register for this class, please contact Cynthia Reddick at 336-884-2204 or creddick@wesleymemorial.org

INTERDENOMINATIONAL

BIBLE STUDY



Mondays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Begins on September 12 (Media Center)

Topic: David - Developing a Heart for God

David was a highly-flawed individual but he was the God’s greatest leader of Israel and a “man after God’s own heart” (I Sam. 13:14). Lead by Dr. Jeff Patterson

To register, contact Cynthia Reddick creddick@wesleymemorial.org or 336-884-2204

DR. WILLETT MEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Resumes on September 14 at 7:20 a.m.in the Dining Hall. A warm continental breakfast will be served. 

C.S. LEWIS SOCIETY

OF THE TRIAD

First Thursday of Each Month, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. (Off-Campus at River Landing)

This book study group exists for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the Christian faith by studying the thought of the greatest twentieth-century defender of the Christian faith, C.S Lewis. A book or an essay by or about C.S. Lewis is discussed at each meeting. This group meets in the living room of the main building of the River Landing Retirement Community in Colfax on the first Thursday of each month, October – June, from 7 to 8 p.m. This group has members from around the region and is facilitated by our Senior Pastor, Dr. Jeff Patterson. For more information email Dr. Patterson.

AUTUMN LIGHTS

Outdoor Candlelight Prayer Service

Sunday, September 25, 2022

7:30-8:00 pm

(Registration begins 7:00)

Raising Awareness and Financial Support to Benefit

ALZHEIMER’S / DEMENTIA PATIENTS

 & THEIR CARE PARTNERS

The Senior Adult Council invites ALL FAMILIES of our church and community to participate in an OUTDOOR candlelight worship service of songs and prayers. Attendees will receive candle votives for this beautiful service, and invited to write names on paper flowers of their loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s. Our pastors will pray over these names. All donations benefit The Alzheimer’s Association of Guilford County, given in a combined gift from Wesley Memorial. Last year’s donations totaled $13,295. Our 2022 goal is to meet or exceed this gift. 

Location ~ Dining Hall Patio. In case of rain, Service held in the Sanctuary

SENIOR ADULTS TAKING THE TRAIN TO THE FAIR!  

Wesley Memorial Seniors ages 60+ will be traveling by train to the State Fair in Raleigh on October 18. This is a special, temporary stop for the annual North Carolina State Fair each fall.

October 18 is Senior Day at the fair so admission for those over 65 is free. Regular admission is $8.00. 

Bus transportation to the High Point Amtrak station will be provided from the church parking lot at 7 a.m. The train leaves at 8:02 a.m. and arrives at the State Fair at 10:05 a.m. The return trip will leave the fairgrounds at 3 p.m. and arrive at the High Point station at 5 p.m. Bus transportation will again be provided to the church parking lot.

Round trip train tickets are $27 per person. This amount is due when you place your reservation and is non-refundable. Reservations should be made by calling Cynthia Reddick at the church 336-884-2204 no later than Monday, September 19.

For additional information about the 2022 State Fair check out their website: www.ncstatefair.org/2022/index.htm

Welcoming our 2022-2023 Fabulously Awesome Staff!

Beginners: Tracie Gross, Beverly Holliday, Kathleen Mullins

Toddlers: Joy Greene, Keisha Morrison, Belen Fernandez, Joyce Davis

Twos: Nicole Woodward & Patricia Tapia and Diane Neptune & Lisa Fouts

Pre-K Threes: Skylar Poteat & Karen Harris and Roz Turner & Judy Marsh

Pre-K Fours: Michelle Bogue & Janet Kelley and Heather Yokeley & Suzie Day

Kindergarten: Abby Siegrist & Angie Garner and Dawn Miller & Robin Daniels

WMS Leadership Team: Susan Kelley & Sandi Todd

1^st Corinthians 12:14

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

WMS opens for the 60^th year on Wednesday, September 7^th.

WMS is a half-day Christian Early Childhood Education program from 9-1.

We nurture and teach infants (3 months) through kindergarten age.

On Wednesday, August 31 at 9am each staff member, student, family, classroom, and the campus were prayed over and blessed by Pastor Ken Lyon. He asked each teacher their hopes for their students and the school year. He then used oils making a cross marking on each door frame and shared a prayer. Parents and children who were present for their orientation visits were thankful to take part in such a spiritual act/inviting Christ to be omni-present in the WMS ministry.