Skip to main content

Life in Greencastle - Personal

As I have said on a few occasions, one of the things I really enjoy about being back in Greencastle is how personal everything is. The evidence of the intimacy and interrelatedness continues to come: articles in the Banner about neighbors and church family, connections made, bumping into new friends at the store.

Everything is personal here. And that is what I enjoy about this place. It’s also what I enjoy about our congregation, about our church.

But, do you know what? “Personal” and “local” really aren’t all that popular in the modern world. I was reminded of that again this week as I spent forty minutes on the phone – being bounced around from person to person in AT&T’s elaborate (that’s the nice word) customer service system. We have been told and promised that big business and modern conveniences can deliver the world to us in seconds … until you actually want to talk directly with someone on the inside. Then you feel like you’ve gone in search of the Wizard of Oz.

This – to me – is all the more reason to celebrate the value and goodness of our church … and not just our church, but all our local churches. The local congregation is where we remain ever and always personal. Programs are valuable, yes. And having a clear vision is important. True. But, uppermost, we are a body, not a slogan or a tag-line.

It was great to see our personality come out again last week during the ice-cream social. It is such an absolute joy to see us as a people talking with each other – talking about swim lessons, parenting, and vacations. And the hurts and the hopes. Because this is us. This is what it means to be a congregation. This is how the Holy Spirit is alive in us.

This week we get to celebrate our communal life in definite ways. First of all, we will recognize two new members of our church family. Dottie Sawyer and Allie Peabody became members of our congregation last week by stating their faith and desire to participate in our life together before our elders. I will share more with you about these two sisters in Christ in worship, and I invite you to say hello to them after worship.

Secondly, this Sunday is also “invite a friend” Sunday, so I encourage you to think about a person or couple that you think would benefit from being a part of our community. I know how hard it is to extend an invitation. But, from the earliest days of the church, this is how God’s grace has been communicated: relationally, personally … one person going to another person and saying, “Hey, I was wondering if you would like to come with me to … uh … church.”

Also, a week from this Sunday we will go to the Indianapolis Indian’s game in the afternoon. Some of you have already expressed interest. For anyone else who would like to go, please be sure to email our church (churchoffice@cinergymetro.net) or sign-up on Sunday morning (there will be a sign-up sheet on the table where the bulletins are located).

I look forward to seeing you Sunday. God’s peace to you until then and at all times,

Wes

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 2:42-47 - Questions for Reflection & Study

This past Sunday, we took a look at Luke's first summary passage in the story of Acts:  chapter 2, verses 42-47.  Here, Luke is presenting a billboard of what the Church looks like at its best.  He is trying to convince Theophilus that Christianity is worth his attention.  The early Church captures what all of us are looking for, whether we know it or not.  This is a close community that truly cares for one another, where everyone truly is seen as a brother and sister, and where no one person is considered more or less important as the other.  Needs are being met.  There is joy in their fellowship.  Take a moment to think about a time in your life when you experienced the joy and blessing of a deep, loving community?  Where was it, and what made this community so different?  What role did you play in this community? Luke tells us the disciples "devoted themselves" to four essential practices.  The Greek word for "devoted" is one that is often used in t
Post a Comment
Read more

Acts 5:1-11 - Questions for reflection & prayer

This past Sunday we looked at one of the more unsettling stories in the Book of Acts :  the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.  As shared by Luke, this couple sold a piece of land and then proceeded to bring only a portion of the profit to the apostles - laying it at their feet for the good of the community.  However, what appeared to be their grave mistake (pun intended) was their collusion in claiming to have brought all the proceeds to the apostles when - in fact - they were keeping some back for themselves.  Peter announces first to Ananias the Lord's judgment, followed by a similar verdict being handed down to Sapphira a short time later. Seen by itself, this is a strange story, but it begins to make more sense when we see it as "part of the whole."  The story of Ananias and Sapphira comes right after we hear once again of the community's unity and generosity, including their willingness to share their own goods and resources to take care of one another (ch. 4). 
Post a Comment
Read more

Listening to Jesus

In recent years, two scenes from the Gospels keep grabbing my attention: Jesus' baptism and Jesus' transfiguration. In both instances God the Father speaks to Jesus or about Jesus (it may be the only time we hear God the Father speaking directly about Jesus). In both cases, God proclaims (and claims) Jesus as God's very own, "Beloved" Son. God the Father further announces that he is "well pleased" with Jesus. On the second occasion - the Transfiguration - God goes on to command us (the disciples) to "Listen to him." Listen to Jesus. It seems like such a fundamental and important part of what it means to be a Christian. The very idea of us being Christians is that we are taking our cues and directions from Jesus - that he is both our Lord and our Teacher. And, yet, I have noticed within myself that I don't really do this that often. Yes, even pastors struggle with this. It is much easier to be swayed by the many other voices that we
Post a Comment
Read more