– Rev. Lynn Benson, Director of Legacy Giving, UMF
I hope it is not too late to offer this seasonal greeting? Especially since I haven’t seen most of you as of the writing of this article. In fact, there are many of you I have yet to meet. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rev. Lynn Benson and my husband Marty, and our grandson Luke have been attending St. James UMC in Greenville since early October 2022. In mid-December, the bishop made St. James UMC my secondary appointment. My primary appointment is with the United Methodist Foundation where I serve full-time as the Director of Legacy Giving. I have served with UMF since July 2016, and I love the work I get to do with this organization which connects us by faith. My role at UMF allows me to utilize both my undergraduate studies in Business Finance (ECU 1985) and my Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Christian Education (Duke 2013).
In many ways this new appointment feels like ‘pouring new wine in new wineskins’ as Jesus spoke of in Mark 2:18-22. Resolutions or ‘new’ goals often come with turning of the calendar to a new year. In a recent devotional I was remind this response of Jesus to John’s disciples of a new way of doing things, a faith that is relational, an interior movement of the heart and mind toward God shown by how we are with other people is a worthy goal in this new season. Such ‘newness’ is not necessarily easy since the comfort of ‘old cloaks,’ or ‘old wineskins’ can be hard to give up. But I am encouraged that even small changes can mark the beginning of better days ahead.
Extending a ‘faith that is relational’ to you, the folks of the Sound District, is a goal for me in this new year. I would love the hear:
- How you got to NCCUMC and what things you’ve been involved in
- Why you enjoy supporting The Church with your time, talents, gifts, presence, and witness
- The impact that The Church has had on you and others.
If you would like to share your story with me, I am more than eager to hear it. Connect with me via email at: lbenson@umfnc.org or by phone: 252-813-1116. If getting together interests you, I would welcome the opportunity to visit with you over coffee.
As I sign off, let me commend Eliza King’s rendition of ‘All Things New.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS_YTkN6lT0 How do you notice Christ making things new for you at this moment?