Friday, 18 July 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY JULY 20TH 2014

ST. DAVID’S
UNITED CHURCH
PORT HASTINGS, N.S.


Mission Statement:

We are a faith community who come together to worship God, reflect upon scripture, share the sacraments, care for and support the congregation and wider community, striving for right relations among persons.
**********

Participating through leadership in worship this morning are:
Organist: Al Fougere
Greeter: Malcolm Parsons
Lay Reader: Lisa Rhynold
Collectors: Sally Fox, Heather Deschenes

OFFICE HOURS:
Monday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Wednesday 9-12 noon Nan at St. David’s,
Thursday 9 – 12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s
Friday – Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s
During July & August the Secretary’s office hours are Thursday & Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon

Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of the month.
They are also saving plastic grocery bags which can be dropped off at the Food Bank or given to one of the volunteers.

Summer Services: During the month of:
July - Services will be at St. David’s at 9:30 a.m. NO Service at St. Mark’s
August – Services will be at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m. NO Service at St. David’s.
July 30th – 10:30 a.m. – Service at the Nursing Home

ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS


St. David’s Lay Readers:
July 27th – Katie Downard

August 7th – 14th --- Quilt Show & Sale at St. David’s Church. Open daily 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hosted by The Strait Area Quilters & The Ocean Waves Quilt Society of Cape Breton.
**********

ST. MARK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS


St. Mark’s Courtesy Car: Contact person for the Courtesy Car is Andy Palmer. His telephone number is 625-2748.

FUNDSCRIP  WILL RESUME AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.

August 3rd – Archie Noseworthy
August 10th – Heather Brander
August 17th – Irene Mac Isaac
August 24th – Malcolm Matheson
August 31st – Karen Mac Kinnon

St. Mark’s Greeter & Collectors for August:
Andy Palmer, Malcolm Matheson
++++++++++

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Treasured Bindings Summer’scape Book Sale & Cafe
Saturday, July 26 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Church Hall $3.00 for tea/coffee/iced tea & dessert. 2 soft-covered books or 1 hard-covered book - $1.00 Lots of good summer reading! Come, relax, and enjoy! Sponsored by the St. Peter’s United Church

Port Hawkesbury Ceilidh Tuesday @ 7:30pm Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre Presented by the Port Hastings Historical Society
Admission $8.00, Children $4.00 (under 5 free), 
Family rate available Season pass $40.00 Free Tea & Oatcakes

July 22: Dawn & Margie Beaton with All Fired Up

July 29:
Rodney MacDonald - Fiddle/Dance
Buddy MacDonald - Vocals
Wally Ellison - Piper
August 5:
Chrissy Crowley - Fiddle
Troy MacGillivray - Fiddle
Jason Roach - Piano
Sabra MacGillvray & Celtic Touch Dancers - Dance
August 12:
Howie MacDonald - Fiddle
Donna Marie DeWolfe - Fiddle
Mac Morin - Piano

August 19:
Kenneth MacKenzie - Fiddle/Pipes
Calum MacKenzie - Fiddle/Piano
Cullin MacInnis - Fiddle/Stepdance
Ronald MacKenzie - Vocals
Jenny Cluett – Dance




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LIVING THE SEASON--SUMMERTIME

July 20

Genesis 28:10–19a


In this week’s focus scripture, Jacob encounters God in a dream. Jacob is journeying alone after fleeing from his brother Esau. His interaction with God in the dream brings Jacob closer to God. He renames the place of the dream Bethel, which means house of God, to show its significance.


This week 

Each day, step inside a church or different churches or visit another sacred space to pray or spend some time meditating on God’s presence in your life.

 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Pentecost 1 2014 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2013, p.10
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ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY JULY 20 2014-6TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

WORSHIP AT ST. DAVID'S, PORT HASTINGS 9:30

The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/
Ministers: The Whole People of God
Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.
Minister of Music: Al Fougere
July 20th, 2014-6th Sunday after Pentecost
Announcements The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit
*Introit         Come and Find the Quiet Centre, verse 1       VU 374
*Call to Worship
One: From every direction, we come and gather.
All: We have made our way here today. And we greeted one another as we arrived.
One: No matter who we are, or from where we come, God meets us in this place. God meets us in the eyes of the stranger sitting next to us, and in the wonder of children’s whispers.
All: Led by the Spirit of God, remind us that we are children of God.
One: Led by the Spirit, let us be present to the community we create.
All: We are here. Gathered to listen and respond to God’s blessings.
*Opening Prayer
We come to worship you, Holy One,
with confidence and with doubts.
Shape us again into community with you
and one another in worship.
Give us ears to hear and hearts to experience
your challenge and mercy, your love and peace
in the pictures that are opened to us. Amen.
*Hymn          Holy Ground            Printed
Prayer for Wholeness
Assurance of Love
Each of us is both wheat and weed yet God loves all that we are.
Let us believe the good news and let us serve God! Amen.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Genesis 28:10–19a Jacob’s dream of the ladder.
One: Here is Wisdom. All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 139       God, you have searched me and know me.      VU 861
*Hymn           Touch the Earth Lightly            VU 307
Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 The parable of the weeds.
One: Here is Good News. All: Praise be to God.

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn           I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry           VU 644
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
With all that we have, and all that we are,
we reach out to you, our God of generosity.
We ask that you receive these ordinary gifts;
may they be used to offer extraordinary blessings in our community and world.
May these gifts remind us that through you, all is possible! Amen.
Prayers of the People          A Prayer with Movement

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn           On Eagles Wings           VU 808
* Commissioning
Let us go out into God’s holy creation to tend
the mysteries of our lives with courage and compassion
as we actively await God’s justice.
We seek to share love with the help of God’s Spirit
as we are sent forth.
 *Choral Amen
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Friday, 11 July 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS JULY 13TH 2014--WORSHIP AT ST. DAVID'S

ST. DAVID’S

UNITED CHURCH

PORT HASTINGS, N.S.

Mission Statement:

We are a faith community who come together to worship God, reflect upon scripture, share the sacraments, care for and support the congregation and wider community, striving for right relations among persons.
**********

Participating through leadership in worship this morning are:
Organist: Al Fougere
Greeter: Malcolm Parsons
Lay Reader: Julia Mac Kinnon
Collectors: Sally Fox, Heather Deschenes

OFFICE HOURS:
Monday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Wednesday 9-12 noon Nan at St. David’s
Thursday 9 – 12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s
Friday – Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s
During July & August the Secretary’s office hours are Thursday & Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon

Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of the month.
They are also saving plastic grocery bags which can be dropped off at the Food Bank or given to one of the volunteers.

Summer Services: During the month of:
July - Services will be at St. David’s at 9:30 a.m. NO Service at St. Mark’s
August – Services will be at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m. NO Service at St. David’s.
**********.

ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS


St. David’s Lay Readers:
July 20th – Lisa Rhynold
July 27th – Katie Downard

August 7th – 14th --- Quilt Show & Sale at St. David’s Church. Open daily 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Hosted by The Strait Area Quilters & The Ocean Waves Quilt Society of Cape Breton.
**********

ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS


St. Mark’s Courtesy Car: Contact person for the Courtesy Car is Andy Palmer. His telephone number is 625-2748.

FUNDSCRIP  WILL RESUME AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.

St. Mark’s Lay Readers
August 3rd – Archie Noseworthy
August 10th – Heather Brander
August 17th – Irene Mac Isaac
August 24th – Malcolm Matheson
August 31st – Karen Mac Kinnon
++++++++++

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Treasured Bindings Summer’scape Book Sale & Cafe
Saturday, July 26 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Church Hall $3.00 for tea/coffee/iced tea & dessert. 2 soft-covered books or 1 hard-covered book - $1.00 Lots of good summer reading! Come, relax, and enjoy! Sponsored by the St. Peter’s United Church

Port Hawkesbury Ceilidh 
Tuesday @ 7:30pm
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
Presented by the Port Hastings Historical Society
Admission $8.00, Children $4.00 (under 5 free),
Family rate available Season pass $40.00
Free Tea & Oatcakes

July 15:
Kinnon Beaton - Fiddle
Dara MacDonald - Fiddle
Betty Beaton - Piano
Jo-Anne Rankin MacIntyre & Family - Vocals
Kevin Dugas - Bagpipes
Taylor MacQuarrie - Stepdance
July 22: Dawn & Margie Beaton with All Fired Up
July 29:
Rodney MacDonald - Fiddle/Dance
Buddy MacDonald - Vocals
Wally Ellison - Piper
August 5:
Chrissy Crowley - Fiddle
Troy MacGillivray - Fiddle
Jason Roach - Piano
Sabra MacGillvray & Celtic Touch Dancers - Dance
August 12:
Howie MacDonald - Fiddle
Donna Marie DeWolfe - Fiddle
Mac Morin - Piano

August 19:
Kenneth MacKenzie - Fiddle/Pipes
Calum MacKenzie - Fiddle/Piano
Cullin MacInnis - Fiddle/Stepdance
Ronald MacKenzie - Vocals
Jenny Cluett – Dance


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Thursday, 10 July 2014

ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY JULY 13TH, 2014-5TH AFTER PENTECOST


The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/
Ministers: The Whole People of God
  Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.
Minister of Music: Al Fougere
July 13th, 2014-5th Sunday after Pentecost
A thought to begin worship, based on Psalm 119:105–108, 111–112. Psalm 119 is an alphabetical acrostic in which each stanza begins with the same Hebrew letter. This paraphrase resembles this acrostic quality.

A word of yours is like a lamp
  Bringing light to my path.
Complete allegiance is yours, O God,
  Dedicated am I to all of your ways.
Even when hardships come to me
  Faithful will you be in bringing life.
Gifts of praise I offer you, O God,
  Here I stand, a student of your way.
I will hold your words forever before me,
  Joy to my heart they bring.
Keeping your word is my life’s ambition
  Living forever in your way. Praise God!
Announcements   The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit
*Introit            Come and Find the Quiet Centre, verse 1    VU 374
*Call to Worship
One: As we greet this new day,
All: we come together as one.
One: In our differences
All: we come together as one.
One: In our uniqueness,
All: we come together as one.
One: In our offering of hospitality to others,
All: we come together as one.
One: With the Holy One,
All: we come together as one to worship. Amen.
*Hymn            Breathe on Me, Breath of God             VU 382
Opening Prayer
Holy One, as we gather for worship this day,
may we come united in your love.
May we seek wholeness in your Spirit.
May we find peace in your presence.
May we absorb the kindness found in our neighbours.
May we come ready. Amen.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD 

Genesis 25:19-34  Esau gives his birthright for Jacob's stew.
One: Here is Wisdom. All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 119:105-112 Your word is a lamp to my feet (ref. 6) VU 841
*Hymn           Though I May Speak                                      VU 372
Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23  The parable of the sower and seeds
One: Here is Good News. All: Praise be to God.

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn           Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth             VU 320
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer            
Gracious God, may we recognize all the gifts we’ve been given. May the gifts we freely offer be without expectation for any­thing in return. May you bless the work of these gifts this day and in the days ahead. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn            Sent Forth by God's Blessing                        VU 481
* Commissioning and Blessing                       
*Choral Amen
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LIVING THE SEASON--SUMMERTIME

July 13, 2014 Reflection

Genesis 25:19–34

We can all identify with family tension and differences. Jacob and Esau have been battling from the beginning, even in the womb. Their competition continues as they grow older and Jacob tricks Esau into giving away his birthright.
This week we see an example of a troubled family relationship, one that will continue to develop over time.

This week, think about the differences or disagreements that exist among your siblings, or your extended family. Reflect on how these have affected your family dynamics and interactions. What can they teach you about the relationships you have with members of your congregation, friends, co-workers?
Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Pentecost 1 2014 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2013, p.10
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Friday, 4 July 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY JULY 6TH 2014

ST. DAVID’S
UNITED CHURCH
PORT HASTINGS, N.S.


Mission Statement:

We are a faith community who come together to worship God, reflect upon scripture, share the sacraments, care for and support the congregation and wider community, striving for right relations among persons.
**********

Participating through leadership in worship this morning are:
Organist: Al Fougere
Greeter: Malcolm Parsons
Lay Reader: Kenzie Mac Lean
Collectors: Sally Fox, Heather Deschenes

OFFICE HOURS:
Monday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Tuesday 9-12 noon, Nan at St. Mark’s
Wednesday 9-12 noon Nan at St. David’s,
Thursday 9 – 12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s
Friday – Minister’s Day Off, 9-12 noon Jane at St. Mark’s

During July & August the Secretary’s office hours are Thursday & Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon

Food Bank donations are received on the last Sunday of the month.
They are also saving plastic grocery bags which can be dropped off at the Food Bank or given to one of the volunteers.

Summer Services: During the month of:
July - Services will be at St. David’s at 9:30 a.m. NO Service at St. Mark’s
August – Services will be at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m. NO Service at St. David’s.
**********

ST. DAVID’S ANNOUNCEMENTS


St. David’s Lay Readers:
July 13th – Margie Mac Intyre
July 20th – Lisa Rhynold
July 27th – Katie Downard

August 7th – 14th --- Quilt Show & Sale at St. David’s Church.

**********

ST. MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS


St. Mark’s Courtesy Car: Contact person for the Courtesy Car is Andy Palmer. His telephone number is 625-2748.

FUNDSCRIP  FUNDSCRIP WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR JULY AND AUGUST AND WILL RESUME AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.

St. Mark’s Lay Readers
August 3rd – Archie Noseworthy
August 10th – Heather Brander
August 17th – Irene Mac Isaac
August 24th – Malcolm Matheson
August 31st – Karen Mac Kinnon

**********

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Port Hawkesbury Ceilidh Tuesday @ 7:30pm
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
Presented by the Port Hastings Historical Society
Admission $8.00, Children $4.00 (under 5 free),
Family rate available Season pass $40.00
Free Tea & Oatcakes

July 8: Cape Breton Fiddler's Association
July 15:
Kinnon Beaton - Fiddle
Dara MacDonald - Fiddle
Betty Beaton - Piano
Jo-Anne Rankin MacIntyre & Family - Vocals
Kevin Dugas - Bagpipes
Taylor MacQuarrie - Stepdance

July 22: Dawn & Margie Beaton with All Fired Up

July 29:
Rodney MacDonald - Fiddle/Dance
Buddy MacDonald - Vocals
Wally Ellison - Piper

August 5:
Chrissy Crowley - Fiddle
Troy MacGillivray - Fiddle
Jason Roach - Piano
Sabra MacGillvray & Celtic Touch Dancers - Dance

August 12:
Howie MacDonald - Fiddle
Donna Marie DeWolfe - Fiddle
Mac Morin - Piano


August 19:
Kenneth MacKenzie - Fiddle/Pipes
Calum MacKenzie - Fiddle/Piano
Cullin MacInnis - Fiddle/Stepdance
Ronald MacKenzie - Vocals
Jenny Cluett – Dance
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ORDER OF SERVICE SUNDAY JULY 6 2014

The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Ministers: The Whole People of God
Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.
Minister of Music: Al Fougere
July 6th, 2014-4th Sunday after Pentecost

Announcements The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit
Introit           Silent Procession and Pouring of Water
*Call to Worship
One: Come, kneel beside God’s well.
All: We come, ready to experience the waters of encounter.
One: Come, kneel beside God’s well.
All: We are ready to feel the flowing transformation of living water.
One: Come, kneel beside God’s well – a sacred place of love found and lost.
All: We are here to experience God’s presence in our midst; we are here to worship and celebrate the love found within this community.
One: Come, friends! Feel God’s cleansing and refreshing waters.
*Hymn:           Come In, Come In and Sit Down           VU 395
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, you meet us in the most unexpected of places; in the moments when your presence seems to have disappeared; in the eyes of a stranger; in the experiences that make us feel the most uncomfortable; in abundance that is found amidst perceived desolation. We come to worship today, giving thanks for the gift of encounter. Through your Spirit’s movement in our lives and in this time together, may our hearts be torn open to your call in our lives, so that we may be stirred to go out and transform your world. Amen.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

Genesis 24:34–38, 42–49, 58–67 Rebekah is found as a wife for Isaac.
This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm:           Psalm 45           VU 769
*Hymn           Jesus Loves Me            VU 365
Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30 My yoke is easy; my burden is light.
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn:           Just a Closer Walk with Thee           Printed
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
Use these gifts, O God, to bring rest, renewal, and refreshment to those people and places that need it most. Take our talents and our dreams, our laughter and our singing, our tears and our anxieties -- use them all to bring your season of new life to fullest bloom. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
You are invited to cup your hands together in your lap as though holding your cares and concerns.
One: …you invite the weary to come, O God.
Response: I give you my cares and concerns (while lifting hands)
and I take your love upon me (fold arms over chest).

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn:           All the Way My Saviour Leads Me             VU 635
* Commissioning and Benediction
One: From this time of sacred rest God invites us to go,
refreshed and renewed, stronger and wiser.
All: From this time of sacred rest, we go now,
bearing a yoke that is easy
and leaving behind the troubles that belong to God.
Let us go in peace.

*Choral Amen
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Thursday, 3 July 2014

LIVING THE SEASON--SUMMERTIME

July 6

Genesis 24:34–38, 4–49, 58–67

This week’s focus scripture is a love story. Rebekah and Isaac meet and fall in love. Abraham’s servant goes in search of Isaac’s bride, and Rebekah chooses to leave her family and go to meet Isaac. This union in the Hebrew Scriptures is an important story in our stories of faith.

This week, send a special handwritten message or e-mail to at least three people you love telling them that you love them.

Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Pentecost 1 2014 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2013, p.10

Prayer and Reflection

Begin a weekly or even daily practice of taking a prayer walk in nature with the week’s focus scripture. Begin by reading the week’s focus scripture. Then say a quick prayer of thanksgiving for God’s presence in your life – even when it might be difficult to feel it. Next, take a 10–15 minute walk around your neighbourhood and reflect on the scripture you’ve read. Think about the examples of movement that you see in each passage (either physical movement or the movement of the Holy Spirit). If you are unable to go outside, move around your house or apartment, look out different windows as you reflect.

Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2013 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Pentecost 1 2014, p. 13

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WHAT KIND OF CHURCH DO WE WANT TO BE?

We Will No Longer Be a Welcoming Church

Rob Moss

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. It won’t be easy, but we’re committed to it. We’ll have to do it in stages, easing our folks into it step by step. We’ll have to deal with the fear of something new, the challenge of venturing into the unknown. But we’ll do it. It will take motivation, leadership, and constant reminders. But most importantly, it will take total commitment in embracing a new focus.

Like so many churches, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, we trained greeters and ushers, we wore name tags, we percolated coffee, we went to workshops on hospitality, we put our friendliest people in the most prominent places on Sunday mornings. But we’ve realized we’ve been misplacing our emphasis. So we’re no longer going to do it.

Here’s what we’re doing instead. We are becoming an Inviting Church. That’s different. You see, “welcoming” from a missional perspective is passive. It denotes waiting for visitors and guests to drop by. When they do, we attempt to treat them very well and do everything possible to make them comfortable. We’ll be willing to change who we are. We’ll follow particular formats that have proven to be more welcoming to new people. We’ll do whatever it takes to have them come back the next Sunday, even if they shouldn’t. Welcoming is about us, not about them.

“Inviting,” however, is different. That means we leave the comfort of our congregational home-court advantage. The main activity doesn’t happen in our worship space when people drop in, but in the neighborhood when we go out. It isn’t so much welcoming them into our place, but going out into their place and meeting them there.

Even that warrants a significant caveat. This is not just another gimmick to get people into the church. The foundation of this isn’t an attempt to bolster declining membership rolls and make a better parochial report to the bishop. No, it goes much deeper than that. It starts with who God has called us to be as church. It involves discovering our gifts and purpose. And it mandates joining God at work in the world. This isn’t about getting the world into God’s church; it’s about getting the church into God’s world.

If you’ve read any postings on this blog before, you know that God’s mission is what we are to be about. Everything comes from that – including the identity of the church. We exist as church only because God has a mission. Our purpose, our very identity, is called forth out of God’s loving care and redemptive activity in creation. We are steeped in God’s mission. We are drenched through baptism into this essential character of God. God is at work in the world, and creates, calls, and equips the church specifically for that work.

Each congregation has a purpose within God’s mission. Each congregation has particular gifts. Each congregation reveals the life-giving reign of God in unique ways. No congregation is everything to everyone. But every congregation is something to someone. Who can know God through your worship style? Who can experience forgiveness and grace through your congregational community? Who needs the gifts you have to offer? Who can offer gifts you need? Knowing those things, when in conversation over the backyard fence about their pain in losing a loved one, it would be natural then to invite that neighbor to your congregation’s grief support group that has made such a difference for many others. When in the employee lunch room chatting about the pressures of our jobs, it would fit to invite that co-worker to your congregation’s spiritual direction group for professionals. When sharing the struggles of parenthood with a friend while waiting for your kids to come out of school, it would make sense to invite their whole family to your cross-generational faith development where you have gained so much guidance from other parents. While paying for a car repair, your long-time mechanic lets slip that she has lost her faith, it would easily flow for you to invite her to join you (and all the other doubters who will gather this Sunday) in worship.

Welcoming involves hoping whoever happens to find you will join. Inviting involves sharing God’s specific gifts – made real in your congregation – in the world.

Rev. Dr. Robert G. Moss, Pastor, Lutheran Church
of the Master, Lakewood, CO, USA. Used by permission.

2014 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2013 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Pentecost 1 2014, P. 7
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