Newsletter January 2009

From the Pastor,
Here I am at the end of one year, peering desperately into the next year. Watching the news and listening to those who might be prophetic trying to get a glimpse of what is to come.
The negative outlook of many in the news world would be enough to make me want to go hide in a cave. This doom and gloom is okay for the world but I live in a different place. I live with a Savior who promises not to desert me. I live in a place where there is always hope and that this hope lies in something that this world cannot see but only believe in. I live in a place that calls me to share from the great abundance I have. I live in a world that is blessed richly.
This is the difficult portion of being a Christian in the world. We have this hope secured in us and at the same time face the difficulty of living in a world that appears to be consumed with self preservation and self advancement. This is a place where Christians and the world part company. As the scriptures make clear – (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV) The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
If this is true and you really believe it then I have a proposition for the New Year. The idea is that we begin to live as though we are all one. This would mean cooperation and sharing of all resources given to us not only individually but as a congregation and then as a gathering of congregations and then as a presbytery and then as a synod and then………………………
You see this has implications far beyond us but it must begin at the base. We become the base of the whole body, us and those like us. For a little more of the picture imagine we at this church, (either Stuart Community or Atkinson Presbyterian) begin to live as though we are one together. This means that when there is a project or program it is with us all, not just one or two but the entire group becomes the project. Mull this over a bit, try to see in your mind the ministry of the church is your ministry. Your response to it is very integral to its success.
I suppose to add a little clarity I would need to give some additional scripture so try to picture it like this (Romans 12:4 & 5 NIV) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
As it says here we all have a place or function in the work of the church. Even when we do not totally agree with the majority we are to have a positive roll in the ministry of Christ. I hope a picture of each of us contributing to the whole is starting to grow in you.
The beginning of this vision moves us to the next level and that would be that we begin to see ourselves as part of the larger picture. Maybe you feel insignificant and unimportant but you are a very important piece of the whole. With a vision of being totally with the rest of the congregation lets step it up a bit and take it to the next level.
Two churches, separate entities yet filled with believers who are interconnected one to the other. These two churches then become part of the body with the same thing applying to them as to the individual. As a congregation you are part of the larger body. This is a vision of one church with two worship/ministry centers in two towns. This may be very difficult to assimilate as it will require a release of independence just like in your personal life. If you can take this step with me it will open a multitude of possibilities. You are already there in principle as you are a parish together.
If we begin to vision that there are not two churches but only one with two places of ministry we would see far more cooperation and work between the two. Imagine the resources that could be shared. I am not sure if anyone has considered what can be shared but maybe we could begin this journey by asking what we have to share.
I can already feel some anxiety growing and the accusation that there is a plot to undermine and do away with one or the other. This is not what this is about. It is about growing and doing more ministry. This is about living the Scriptures out in our lives. We need supported by and to support one another. I am suggesting that the work and the connection be joined deeper and moved further. I do not intend to stop a vision here either as it reaches much further so please stay with me.
If this vision is to get where I see the Bible leading then we must go on. There is the vision of each of us being a part of a larger body and most of the time we can deal with that as we are members of a particular church. The vision grows and gets more difficult as you move to a place that says you not only give up your personal identity (somewhat) to be part of a greater picture, but you are then asked to give up a lot of that identity to be a piece of an even greater picture.
If you haven’t thrown out the letter by now and determined to rid the church of my presence lets move to an even greater vision. Imagine if you can that these two churches now united as one join with yet another church. For ease of seeing imagine this same principle were added to the O’Neill and Bethany churches. (I have not talked of this with them so this is an example only.) As the body grows there is far more to it and it has even greater resources to share for ministry. Just look at the things we may have added; people, equipment, dollars, ideas, energy, prayer, and the list goes on.
This then begins to snowball and these congregations join with others and the cooperation and support begin to grow. There are now opportunities in education and ministry and mission. There are the tools needed to build greater relationships and to help even more people struggling to face life. Hope is given where hope did not exist and everyone begins to have needs met and finally there is a great outreach in the name of Christ.
As this grows we then have a Presbytery and then a Synod and on and on it goes. Well guess what we have done. We have built a denomination that is for the advancement of the Gospel and the building up of the Saints. It all starts with us and our commitment to Christ. If we are about protecting what we have and getting more then we have missed the mark. I cannot tell you what the future holds but I do know we are called to service and service is giving. If the body is called to service and you are holding back on your part then the body is being compromised. This is not something that can become in an instant but with work and dedication we can begin the journey.
This is the beginning of living a life in Christ. It has been with much prayer and hesitation that I put this before you. The risk is there that we lose much of what we have been but as with a new year I invite you on a new journey. I will begin walking this journey with you as the New Year opens its doors to us. I will need input from all who want to vision a greater kingdom. The church as well as our nation will be changed in the coming months and years regardless of our wishes. If we begin moving and relish the adventure we may accomplish great things. The danger of holding too tight and not moving was brought clear to me as I talked with a mentor and was told, “you only coast going down hill.”
I leave you with these thoughts as a new day dawns and the glory of Christ draws ever nearer.
Grace and peace to you, Pastor Wayne