This has been an exciting and challenging year for the Kybartai congregation and their pastor. Last fall they were told that the building they are renting would have to be vacated sometime this year. The congregation and Pastor Remigijus searched for a new rental space but without success. With the help of their Partner Church, Trinity UMC Huntsville, they were able to purchase a small building across the street from the property that was acquired for a future building. Some significant renovations were needed to make the building suitable. Now the renovations to the purchased building are nearly complete. We are waiting on warm weather to complete the installation to building of water and sewer systems. The congregation has begun to worship in the new space and uses “outdoor facilities” as needed.
If this weren’t enough the church was told in the spring by the municipality that they must remove the old ruins that were on the property of the future building site. Again the church and pastor were put under pressure and again with funds from their partner church they were able to do this removal of ruins, which of course is the next step to a future building. This small thing also raised the status of the congregation in the community. Through all of this the congregation and pastor worked together to insure a positive outcome for the church.
Finally, in August it was announced to the congregation that there pastor Remigijus would be taking a one year study leave beginning in September. Remigijus is now attending the Selly Oak Center for Mission Studies, Queens College, Birmingham in a one year program that includes students from around the world. He was accepted into the program with a full scholarship and at the end will receive an MA in Applied Theology and we will have one of our Lithuania Pastors back here with new skills and expertise. I have to commend Remigijus and the congregation for how they have handled this transition. In the interim Pastor Vidas and I are each leading worship once or twice each month. A Lay Speaker, Danutė Jablonskienė comes once a month to lead worship and the local church leadership covers the other Sunday. They are pleased and excited for their pastor and this opportunity for him and have risen to the occasion of meeting the everyday needs of the church for this interim time.
Each Sunday the room is full with adults, children and youth. Twice a week the church provides a feeding program for children. Choir goes on, youth meetings continue, all under the leadership of the laity and help from our District staff for children and youth. I am proud of the work of the laity here and know that it is the result of their good pastoral leadership.
We continue to work on plans for a permanent building. I have designed a smaller, more energy efficient model that could possibly be used. It would be about 200 square meters, have a multipurpose room that could seat up to 100, two classrooms, restrooms, storage and an entrance area. We are getting cost estimates for the building now. It is our hope that a new building might be started in 2011.
God has been good and gracious to the congregation of Kybartai and in turn they have shown their faithfulness and willingness to be Disciples.
We are happy that Pastor Remigijus is back from England and has been reappointed to the Kybartai Congregation for another year.
Rev. John Campbell, District Superintendent and Pastor
Pastor Grazina