September 2011

It’s good to be back at church, and I hope those of you who have been away this summer feel the same way. Your dedicated staff have been busy working with members to put together exciting, meaning-filled programming for the fall, including, for the first time, a full slate of age-specific programming for our children and youth during both the 9:30 and 11:00 services (beginning September 11), as well as an expanded roster of adult religious education opportunities. And there are the beginnings of some exciting initiatives taking hold, including discussions about adding a Saturday afternoon service and expanding our church to enable more people to find a home with us. We’ve got a lot of positive momentum right now, with many of you bringing your friends, and spreading the word about how our congregation is a place you don’t want to miss. That’s why I want to be sure you don’t miss your chance to get involved. If you consider yourself too new to our congregation to be an active participant in our initiatives and activities, I encourage you to reconsider. There is no time like the present to invest yourself in the life of our church. We need Sunday school teachers, coming of age mentors, religious services committee members, capital campaign discussers, small group ministry facilitators, caring ministry visitors, vibrant greeters, Wednesday evening cooks, etc. The truth is, we need you! The more you get involved in the opportunities and responsibilities of our congregation, the more you will get from being here. If you are having trouble finding a way to get involved let one of your staff or fellow church members know. We’ll do our best to find the intersection of your interests and the church’s needs. 20th century minister Howard Thurman famously said,

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

The same goes for the church. Here’s hoping we all have opportunity to “come alive” this year.

See you in church!
 

Visit the Rev. Mark Stringer on his Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/RevMark.Stringer