Dear Worshippers,
In these couple of weeks between serving the Morgantown church where I have been for the last nearly six years and the Warren church where I am headed attending church has been very different. I have attended a couple of services with the boys and we attended another church as a family this past Sunday. Not having my normal responsibilities has been refreshing, but it has also left us with an entirely different approach to church.
I have been grumpy and have felt unfulfilled, even though I have really enjoyed the increased my time with family. This got me thinking about the role of church in our lives, not just because I am a pastor, but because we see the church as having such a significant role in encouraging us in the Christ life. Though the activities at church can be overwhelming at times and can dominate family life if one is not careful, I am so thankful for the blessing of being part of the Church, and specifically a local body.
As I reflected on this I was reminded of Hebrews 10:25. There are several “let us” admonitions leading us to this verse, “let us draw near…hold unswervingly...consider”, but the final two occur in this one verse. It says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Those verses have taken on added significant in this strange season between posts for me. I am writing to help me remember that for the future, and encourage you now.
I was looking for this verse and could not remember the address. I was searching for “gathering”, then “assembling”, until I finally came across it, thanks to some help from my helpmate. I don’t know about you, but the word meeting for me just is not very appealing. I think about a lot of talking and little action. I do not want church to be like that, and I am certain the writer of Hebrews did not imply that. Rather, the emphasis is truly on the word “together”.
Our new slogan for the Alliance is “Living the Call Together”. I love that. Because I view worship as a way of life, talking about the call as a lifestyle really resonates with me. But I really appreciate the last word as well. Together. That is how we are to do this thing. Not just the call, but the Christian life. This is meant to be done together. I praise the Lord for the wisdom of that. How many times when I have been discouraged, or frustrated, or indifferent has God used a fellow believer to speak something into my life that changed me and the situation? Many. I am so thankful that God gives us His Church to share life together.
So what about you? Are you thankful for the church? If you are attending but are not really sharing life then you probably are not. But if you are in others lives and are allowing them into yours you probably are. For those of you who have shared life with me…thank you. For those who will soon…thank you Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Thank You
Dear Worshippers,
It is with tears in my eyes that I write this. I am so thankful to the Lord for the ministry we have shared these nearly six years together. Saying farewell to some of you has been a very difficult experience and that is because the Lord has knit our lives together.
When I first began to consider what leaving Morgantown to answer God’s call would mean to me the analogy that came to mind was that of tearing cloth. I can hear that sound in my mind. Thank you for making yourself available for that knitting process.
Some of you have served in our choir. We have enjoyed many times of singing praise. We have laughed together and cried together. We have prayed for each other. God has enriched my life through many of you and for that I am grateful to both Him and you.
Some of you have been involved with our orchestra. We have supported the choir and congregation through the playing of instruments. We too have laughed. It has been a joy to serve the King with you, His instrumentalists. Thank you for your service, and the tapestries of sound He has woven through you.
Other have been involved in the worship team ministry. Your faithful service has been a blessing to me. As we have labored to lead the congregation in worship, each has brought their own unique set of talents and we have endeavored to meld it together for the glory of our Lord and the good of His people. Thank you for the privilege of leading you in this. It has been a blessing.
Others have assisted in the audio/visual area, the children’s music ministry and prayer teams. Some have served in roles that have never been acknowledged, for they were ordained by God and not by man. Still others have quietly supported and worshipped and praised. Your support has been more appreciated than you will ever know until we get to glory and I finally have the words to express it to you.
One of the lessons the Lord is teaching me is to make myself even more available to the knitting process. There are some of you whom I do not know as well as I would like to. Others of you have expressed the same to me. I intend to seek the Lord in my new place for His direction on which lives He desires to closely weave with mine. Please do the same.
It has been a delight to partner with you. You are in my heart. May God bless you in this season of transition. Grace and peace to you my friends in Christ Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
It is with tears in my eyes that I write this. I am so thankful to the Lord for the ministry we have shared these nearly six years together. Saying farewell to some of you has been a very difficult experience and that is because the Lord has knit our lives together.
When I first began to consider what leaving Morgantown to answer God’s call would mean to me the analogy that came to mind was that of tearing cloth. I can hear that sound in my mind. Thank you for making yourself available for that knitting process.
Some of you have served in our choir. We have enjoyed many times of singing praise. We have laughed together and cried together. We have prayed for each other. God has enriched my life through many of you and for that I am grateful to both Him and you.
Some of you have been involved with our orchestra. We have supported the choir and congregation through the playing of instruments. We too have laughed. It has been a joy to serve the King with you, His instrumentalists. Thank you for your service, and the tapestries of sound He has woven through you.
Other have been involved in the worship team ministry. Your faithful service has been a blessing to me. As we have labored to lead the congregation in worship, each has brought their own unique set of talents and we have endeavored to meld it together for the glory of our Lord and the good of His people. Thank you for the privilege of leading you in this. It has been a blessing.
Others have assisted in the audio/visual area, the children’s music ministry and prayer teams. Some have served in roles that have never been acknowledged, for they were ordained by God and not by man. Still others have quietly supported and worshipped and praised. Your support has been more appreciated than you will ever know until we get to glory and I finally have the words to express it to you.
One of the lessons the Lord is teaching me is to make myself even more available to the knitting process. There are some of you whom I do not know as well as I would like to. Others of you have expressed the same to me. I intend to seek the Lord in my new place for His direction on which lives He desires to closely weave with mine. Please do the same.
It has been a delight to partner with you. You are in my heart. May God bless you in this season of transition. Grace and peace to you my friends in Christ Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Packing Up: Packrats Beware!
Dear Worshippers,
Sarah and I spent many hours on Saturday packing up our garage. During that labor I came across several things I had been holding onto that I thought I might need at some point. You know the response to the question, “Why are you keeping that?” [I should say at this point that Sarah is very good for me in this among so many other ways in that she has helped me to purge my life of useless things on many occasions. Don’t tell her I told you that!]
Probably the best example of keeping something that had long ago lost its usefulness was the old, rusty fire place tools which we first purchased over 10 years ago while living in Nebraska. When we moved to Florida {remember I am talking about fireplace tools} she asked why I was moving them. To which I responded, “I might need them”. I didn’t. When we moved to West Virginia she asked again but this time why we were moving a set that was beginning to look ragged. Same response.
When I pulled them out of the corner of the garage on Saturday she just looked at me. Nothing needed to be said. I moved them to the curb with the rest of the items to be discarded. It had become obvious that these tools were now useless; even I could see that, finally realizing what she had known for years. She had been so patient with me.
Walking by that corner the last few days has been a delight. There is much more room there. The entire surrounding area is neater. The clutter has been cleared away.
So here is the question. What is stuck in the corner of your soul today? As you contemplate moving into a new year/season/place with your Lord, what is cluttering your life making it difficult to experience the margin that would otherwise help you enjoy it? What has become useless in your life that you may need to discard to make the journey a little lighter?
Consider this. Are you holding onto something that you need to put out on the curb? Do you need to let go of something to be able to move on with Jesus in the next episode? I pray that Spirit will tune your heart as you ponder these thoughts.
Next week [my final Morgantown Tunings]…Thank You.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
Sarah and I spent many hours on Saturday packing up our garage. During that labor I came across several things I had been holding onto that I thought I might need at some point. You know the response to the question, “Why are you keeping that?” [I should say at this point that Sarah is very good for me in this among so many other ways in that she has helped me to purge my life of useless things on many occasions. Don’t tell her I told you that!]
Probably the best example of keeping something that had long ago lost its usefulness was the old, rusty fire place tools which we first purchased over 10 years ago while living in Nebraska. When we moved to Florida {remember I am talking about fireplace tools} she asked why I was moving them. To which I responded, “I might need them”. I didn’t. When we moved to West Virginia she asked again but this time why we were moving a set that was beginning to look ragged. Same response.
When I pulled them out of the corner of the garage on Saturday she just looked at me. Nothing needed to be said. I moved them to the curb with the rest of the items to be discarded. It had become obvious that these tools were now useless; even I could see that, finally realizing what she had known for years. She had been so patient with me.
Walking by that corner the last few days has been a delight. There is much more room there. The entire surrounding area is neater. The clutter has been cleared away.
So here is the question. What is stuck in the corner of your soul today? As you contemplate moving into a new year/season/place with your Lord, what is cluttering your life making it difficult to experience the margin that would otherwise help you enjoy it? What has become useless in your life that you may need to discard to make the journey a little lighter?
Consider this. Are you holding onto something that you need to put out on the curb? Do you need to let go of something to be able to move on with Jesus in the next episode? I pray that Spirit will tune your heart as you ponder these thoughts.
Next week [my final Morgantown Tunings]…Thank You.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
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