August 2010

Greetings in Christ!  The normal practice in this space is to start with a Bible quote, and then go on to write an article.  For the past few months I’ve encouraged you to invite your neighbors into your home.  This month, I’ll add the voices of Saints Paul and Peter as coaches in this effort.  If you want further coaching on how to host a simple neighborhood gathering that you might welcome strangers, as Christ has welcomed you, just let me know, I’ll happily help out!

 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
            Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
                        Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
            Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.  Romans 12:9-13 (TNIV)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹
         Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.   1 Peter 4:8-9 (TNIV)

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
         for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.  Hebrews 13:2 (TNIV)

Here’s to great gatherings in your home this month as the mission field of our congregation is established in our very own neighborhoods.

For the past two months I’ve written to you about the earliest call of Christ, sending Christians out in mission, with the Church arising from that mission.  This has never been written to write that we can do mission without the Church, indeed, three are interwoven.  This summer we’ve seen a number of our common ministries manifest all three aspects, as the leaders of our Vacation Bible School sensed the call to go deeper in what they were offering to the students and staff. 

That sense of call led to numerous prayerful conversations around the purpose and methodology for VBS, which ultimately led to Christian Education Director Karen Harmon working with a team to develop our own curriculum.  Will Sappington even wrote the theme song!  In the process of going through the week of Vacation Bible School, it was a joy to watch students and staff grow deeper in their understanding of what it means to life with a faith that is fully alive--a worthy goal for anyone of any age. Thanks go to Karen and the entire Vacation Bible School team for doing a magnificent and faithful job of it!

How will you seek the call of Christ in your life?  Have a few ideas?  Give me a call and let’s talk about it.

Your servant in Christ,

John