ORGANIZATIONAL CALENDARS
The year's end is the time to lay specific plans for the coming year. Inventory time and planning time calls for a progressive outlook in establishing future objectives and goals, as well as a checkup on past accomplishments. Many pastors have found that there is much to be gained by making an organizational calendar showing the proposed activities for the entire year. These include coming events, the time for beginning preparation to reach these objectives, and the names of those who are to lead out in each instance.
In many large churches the plan is followed to prepare a master calendar including all the various organizations of the church, which is hung up in the church office or some other central location. This is consulted by all the separate organizations of the church in order to avoid conflicts and to be fully conversant with the over-all plan as well as their own specific care of projects. The pastor, together with the church board, can finalize on the preparation of such a calendar after a preliminary listing has been made of all the activities, special plans, and projects of the year. Included in the regular schedule of activities for each month will be the periods of time set apart for evangelistic activities and various departmental weekends for the Missionary Volunteers, or the Sabbath school, or the Dorcas Society, or other branches of the church at work.
From the main master calendar each organization within the church can prepare its own organizational calendar of activities. Planning in advance leads to broader plans and more harmonious functioning of the whole and builds up general support of the church toward putting these plans into effect. It enables the church board and others to work in advance of special dates and special occasions and to utilize talent that would possibly not be called upon otherwise.
Orderly and long-range planning is a great help to the Lord's work, and the activities' calendar will be a big asset in this program. Workers' meetings are indicated on these calendars, and they help to keep a good balance between the various departments of the church. Some churches find it advisable to have an all-day prayer and planning session for leaders of the committees and organizations, at which time they also highlight the main events of the y ear such as annual meetings, evangelistic services, Vacation Bible Schools, Youth for Christ movements, church rallies, and other plans of vital interest to the membership. These activities will even include the church improvement committee and the time for the appointment of the nominating committee.
The pastor should remember that December is an excellent time for him to sit down and give some very serious thought to his sermon topics for the coming year.
J.A.B.
THE WAIL OF THE BORROWED BOOKS
The month of December is ideal for reflection. The very atmosphere sets the mood.
It first drives us, almost frustratingly, to catch up on letters that are overdue, articles we promised to write but failed to create, and errands we dallied over until the last opportunity—at least for this year! But let us come to the main point: How about checking your personal library and sending back to the owners the books you borrowed? There is nothing personal about this suggestion, especially at this delightful season of good will; it is merely a matter of good taste.
But why this prodding over just a book or two—or more? Stop and think how precious books are to Adventist workers, those books that brought timely help for sermons, and ideas that gave new sparkle to your messages, books that a treasured friend who had confidence in your honesty entrusted to you after you had discussed some brilliant thoughts at workers' meeting. Is there anything more precious to ministerial workers than these hand-picked and carefully purchased books? Some may have been secured at a sacrifice, the worker's wife having to forgo buying a new dress or hat. Books are the tools of the ministerial man, and how he misses them when they are withheld too long!
Be patient a little longer while we discharge our responsibility in the Ministerial Association by making this simple request concerning that borrowed book. It may be surprising to some to learn that disappointed and indignant brethren have laid upon our hearts the matter of training our ministry to be more honorable in this matter. They have even suggested that recognizing this fault would do something toward building character and would add power to your preaching. We have defended you to the best of our ability, but we have also accepted the challenge of these book lenders.
Are you asking, "Why haven't they asked me personally to send that book back?" Maybe they have, and now they are embarrassed enough to call on us for help. They hesitate to take the risk of losing your friendship. It might be a happy solution to send the lender a New Year's greeting as a token of good will as you return the book.
L. C. K.
