Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church I pray you are encouraged as you invest yourselves in ministry. A Christian community serves to support and nurture each member as we grow toward spiritual maturity. Because of varying experiences and sensitivities, there will be occasions when the behaviors of certain persons in the group differ substantially from the behaviors that others in the group are most comfortable displaying. This dynamic can be the source of distress and unrest unless we continue to focus on our individual faithfulness to the call of God to us. We may even begin to feel that the behavior of another person is a direct affront to our personal witness. This perception will then give cause to initiate judgments about who is 'right' and who is 'wrong.' However, by constantly affirming our allegiance to the way of Jesus, each of us will be best positioned to develop the capacities and ministries that God has devised for us. Our objective is to respect the supervision of the spirit of God as our lives unfold so that we might witness to the fullness of God's intention for the human family for those who observe our behaviors. We are blessed as we consistently experience this journey together. We will share in our Fifty Sunday Community Celebration this next Sunday. The worship experience will be enhanced by a variety of musical selections, some familiar and some interestingly new to us. May it go well with you. Sincerely, Garland Robertson ...always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to bring some portion of misery to an end