Rev. Burt Williams' Blog

Burt's Blog - July 25, 2011

Written by Ray Carter
Tuesday, 26 July 2011 15:34
By now you may be wondering: Who is this guy that the Bishop sent to be our pastor? If not give it time! The truth is I am just a normal person, who God called to be a pastor. I am the husband of Sharon, the father of Joshua and Joseph, the son of Jimmy (deceased) and Martha, and brother of David. I like to have fun, I love to talk about Jesus and I enjoy God’s people (most of the time). I grew up in West Tennessee, near the Mississippi (flat land, not the mountains). I accepted the call to ordained ministry at the age of sixteen. After graduating from Ripley High School, I attended Lambuth University where I earned a B.A. in Communications. I met Sharon, who is from Newport News, Virginia, in Augusta Georgia while on staff at Aldersgate UMC as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries. We married on September 25, 1993. I went to Duke Divinity School where I escaped with a Masters of Divinity degree and was ordained Deacon in 1997 then Elder in 2000. Joshua was born the week before finals April 18, 1996. From 1997 to 1999 I served as the Associate Pastor of Providence UMC in Charlotte. Joseph was born on February 16, 1998. From 1999 to 2004 I served as pastor of Glenwood UMC in Greensboro and from 2004 to 2011 as pastor of Macedonia UMC in Southmont. Each church I have been appointed to, each staff person I have worked with and each lay person I have served in ministry with have taught me about who God is and about my relationship with His Son, Jesus. The call of Christianity is lived out in community because God as Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is Holy Community. The Christian faith finds its center in relationship: our individual relationship with Jesus and our relationship with each other. As we grow in relationship with each other I know we will each grow in our relationship with God and discover more and more who God is, I know for me this is true and is already happening at Midway. The other evening, I asked David, who was helping serve the meal for narrow gates what he had learned from this ministry. He said “I have learned that the Kingdom of God is made up of folks that don’t look like me, don’t act like me, and don’t like the things I like, but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ!” Amen!!! So if you think I act a little strange from time to time (and you will) just say to yourself “Burt is my brother in Christ! Burt is my….”
Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 July 2011 15:45

Dave's Scrolls - June 2011

Written by Martha Clayton

Wednesday, 13 July 2011 13:54

DAVE’S SCROLLS

The process is in process! Yes, it is time to say our good-byes. Changing pastoral leadership is always hard and awkward for you, for me. Midway, you have been so supportive of me. God has truly blessed me during these past eight years. We have enjoyed ourselves. The journey has been fun! Even when circumstances caused us to be saddened in spirit, our kindred love and compassion for one another sustained and strengthened our relationship. I have grown many roots here. We are community, friends, FAMILY! And now, we face transition. Both of us need the assurance that the next pastor will be successful and loving too! I pray you will love God and work just as hard in support of Pastor Burt’s leadership as you have for me. I hope you will greet him with the same support and love extended me some eight years ago. I hope you will pray for him and his family. Please continue to pray for me too; but, now is time to let go of me and LET BURT receive the mantle of God at Midway!

I am most humbled and gracious by your expressions of kindness, affection, and appreciation. I find myself wanting to be out and about with you. Yet, there are files to be organized, orientation materials to be prepared for your new preacher, drawers and closets awaiting me at church and the parsonage. The packing and labeling boxes seem endless. While all this is happening on the home front, I too am being oriented and pursued by my perspective new church family. The gamete of emotions runs wild. One moment finds me so sad and forlorn. The next moment I am excited and overwhelmed with the challenges and possibilities of Kernersville. In the midst of this transitional awkwardness, I hope we all realize one basic truth. God is in this move! He has sanctioned it and ordained it. God is faithful! God will see us through this change in our life. He always has! He always will! One of the strengths of United Methodism is our itinerancy system. We pledge our hearts and souls to our Episcopal leaders. Through the power and work of the Holy Spirit, we trust God to lead us in ministry. It is my prayer that God will continue to find us faithful. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, God loves you and so do I! SHALOM!