Encouragement for leaders
Yesterday I was having a conversation with someone about our two service system. I was prompted to write up the thoughts that have come to mind as a result of that conversation and publish them. I think they will be helpful to many people in our church and in other churches.
Great Commandments and Great Commission reasons for two services
This mild winter is passing quickly. A week from today is Ash Wednesday. This coming Sunday begins our 50 day emphasis leading up to Easter. This year, Pastor Eric and I have chosen to focus on the life of our Lord using passages from the Gospel of John. Each week we will show a DVD interpretation with words taken directly from the Good News Bible translation of the American Bible Society, an excellent contemporary translation. It’s hard to believe that it has been 5 years already since the last such series from John. Each time we cover it I find new insights to emphasize.
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Jesus’ Life Can Change Our Lives |
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Date |
Title |
Scripture |
DVD Section |
A Suggested Hymn |
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Feb 19 |
Called to Follow |
John 1:29-50 |
DVD 1 section 2 |
Follow On (440) |
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Feb 26 |
Challenged to Believe |
John 5:15-47;6:1 |
DVD 1 section 7 |
All Hail the Power (240) |
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Mar 4 |
Comforted by Forgiveness |
John 7:53- 8:11 |
DVD 1 section 11 |
Amazing Grace (293) |
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Mar 11 |
Charged to Know the Truth |
John 8:31 |
DVD 1 section 12 |
In Christ Alone |
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Mar 18 |
Cared for by the Shepherd |
John 10:1-21 |
DVD 1 section 15 |
Shepherd of Love (448) |
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Mar 25 |
Cherished by the Shepherd |
John 17 |
DVD 2 section 8 |
Jesus, I Am Resting (325) |
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Apr 1 |
Confronted in our Selfishness |
John 13:1-20 |
DVD 2 section 3 |
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (211) |
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Apr 6 |
Cleared, Cleaned and Claimed because of Him |
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DVD 2 section 9, 10, 11 |
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (224) |
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Apr 8 |
Celebrating Resurrection Power (Lazarus) |
John 11:25 |
DVD 1 section 18 |
Because He Lives (238) |
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Apr 8 10 AM |
Carrying Good News |
John 20:1-18 esp. v. 17,18 |
DVD 2 section 12 |
Crown Him with Many Crowns (243) |
As we begin the New Year, most of us are making plans of some sort. Some of us (like me) are making plans to lose weight (again); others are making plans for major changes in their lives, a marriage, a move, or a job change. But as the New Year begins, it is also important for us to think about the spiritual plans that we should be making for the New Year, plans that can help us to grow and advance in our Christian lives.
That is the purpose of our new series of sermons that began last Sunday. Each week we will take up a new topic that represents a key area of our spiritual life. In some areas we will find the message simply affirming habits that we already have in place. In other areas, we will find ourselves deeply challenged to strengthen our walk with God, our witness, and our service.
I invite you to join us for this insightful and inspiring series. It will carry into February and be followed by our 50 Day Lenten Emphasis which will start February 19.
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Spiritual Plans for a New Year |
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Date |
Topic |
Text |
Speaker |
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Jan. 1 |
Preventing a Famine of Hearing God’s Word |
Amos 8:1-12 |
Ben Mackey |
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Jan. 8 |
Partners In the Gospel |
Philippians 1 |
Pastor Kelvin |
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Jan. 15 |
God’s Plan for Financial Stewardship |
Gen. 14:17-20; Lev. 27:30-32; Mal. 3:6-12; Matt. 23:23,24 |
Pastor Kelvin |
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Jan 22 |
The Power of Testimony |
Revelation 12 |
Pastor Kelvin |
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Jan 29 |
Bring the Sacrifice of Praise |
Hebrews 13:1-21 |
Pastor Kelvin |
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Feb 5 |
Using Our Abilities for God |
Matt. 25:14-30 |
Pastor Eric |
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Feb 12 |
(Preschool Sunday –family emphasis) |
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Setting a goal encouraged us to invite others
Some of you have asked me already, “Did we make 500?” I almost don’t want to answer the question because I am so excited about all the great events that happened over our Christmas weekend. Numerous family groups were here in force and I saw many new faces as well. The Christmas Eve music was super inspiring and our children and teens put the weekend over the top with their Christmas musical. But, the answer is, no, we didn’t reach 500 total attendance for our three Christmas weekend services. In fact, we did not get very close to the number goal. But having talked to families and friends as they gathered both on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, I am convinced that we had between 60 and 100 more people than we would’ve had if we had not set a big goal and stretched. The actual total of 370 included many family and friends that had been invited because we had set a goal. John Abbott expressed what I heard from many. He came with a friend that I did not recognize. Knowing he was from a large family of brothers, I asked, “Is this one of your brothers?” He replied, “It’s one of the men who works with me; you said bring a friend, so I did.” That spirit seemed to pervade the congregation both on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as there were many family members and guests who had been invited to celebrate Christ’s birth with us. Other pastors who had services on Christmas day found their attendance on the low side. But because of our children’s musical and our efforts to invite friends, our Christmas morning attendance (145) was significantly higher than our average attendance. It was also a good thing that we had two Christmas Eve services because fitting everyone who came into one would have been extremely cozy (6 PM 160; 8:30 PM 65).
The most touching report that I heard concerning the Christmas services was Kim Ouderkirk’s report of the children’s prayer time as they prepared to perform their Christmas morning play. One prayed something like this, “Dear Jesus, we have received so many gifts; now please help us give our gift to you.” That is priceless. Another prayed that someone would open their heart to Jesus because of the play. The children’s’ prayers were so moving that some adults left the room to staunch their own tears. Then they went out and delivered a nearly flawless performance, remembering all their lines and showing that they definitely know how to act a part. The message of the play that God’s gift to us of his Son Jesus along with the salvation that he brings to us is the greatest gift of all was crystal clear. Afterward the congregation gave them a standing ovation. Our thanks go to Kim Ouderkirk for her leadership, to all who helped her, to the teens and children for their hard work, and to the parents who cooperated by adjusting home schedules on Christmas so that we could tell Jesus’ story and honor him in this important way on his birthday. And they accomplished all this while also working around the 50th anniversary renovations of the sanctuary.
Our church is really looking forward to Christmas weekend. We decided to have two Christmas Eve services and one service on Christmas Sunday. We also discovered that this Christmas Sunday is the 45th anniversary of the first service in our sanctuary. It will be the first Sunday service with the brand-new carpet completely installed.
But as special as the occasion is, it is the act of worshiping together again in celebration of Jesus birth that makes this weekend so special. We’re looking forward to two wonderful candlelight services on Christmas Eve, the first at 6 PM, and the second at 8:30 PM. Our praise team will be leading music at 6 PM and Dave Schwarz along with Fran and Richard Filmer will be leading music at 8:30 PM. Each service will include four special numbers as listed and each will end, in candlelight.
6:00 p.m. Briana, Joanne – Flute, Harp “O Holy Night”
David Schwarz- “Let There be Light”
Trio: Licia, Clar, and Kim-” Follow the Star”
Eva Boswell and Ally Parker – Signing and Dance to “God With Us”
8:30 p.m. Dick Filmer Handbell Solo: “Silent Night”
Dave Schwarz – “Let There be Light”
JoAnne: Harp ” He is Born, the Divine Christ Child”
Victoria Kipping and Carol Rothwell: “Christ Child”
Christmas morning we are having one service at 10:30 AM. We are really looking forward to it because during that service our children will be putting on their musical called, “The Greatest Gift.” Children’s musicals are always a highlight at Christmas. Other special music will include Richard Filmer on organ for offertory and JoAnne Jones and Brianna Wilkinson on harp and flute.
One more thing is needed to make the weekend complete. It is for you to be there with us worshiping Jesus for his birthday.
For some time, many denominations with beliefs similar to the Wesleyan Church have been working together to forge ties that allow for greater cooperation. I have been very excited about the potential of these discussions. Today I learned through this news release that they have taken a major step forward. I am very excited to report this increased unity among people of like precious faith. It is a tangible way for us to fulfill Jesus prayer that his church would become one (John 17:21). I believe that this step forward will help all of these denominations to grow stronger. http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=00c1511d30181354bb3f64685&id=00384d244b&e=7327beb1e4
I’ve been thinking about the renovations happening in our sanctuary. Through our whole planning and remodeling process I have been very much thinking about the building of the tabernacle in the desert under Moses’ leadership and God’s direction. In Exodus there are three chapters of specific instructions about how Moses was to build it (Ex. 25-28). The process began with an offering, collecting gifts of materials from the people for the project. The people gave willingly and generously. In fact, they gave more than was needed so that Moses had to order them to stop giving (Ex. 36:6,7). The Tabernacle was to be constructed well, and of durable materials, meant to last. Its lavishness was a symbol of the value attached to worshiping God. Great care and skill were required of the builders in order to follow the plan God made for it. God appointed a man named Bezalel whom he had especially gifted for the task (Ex. 31:2).
I see several points of similarity between our renovations in the sanctuary and the building of the Tabernacle. Of course, we needed to begin with an offering too. And we are praising God that pledges have come in sufficiently to complete the kitchen makeover and the sanctuary renovations including the lighting. Cash offerings are on hand to cover the kitchen and the sanctuary renovation but not yet the lighting. But there has all along been a great attitude of willingness to give just there was as in the OT.
Another similarity is the desire I have observed in all our committees and boards to plan for durable changes. We have been very conscious that we have enjoyed a sanctuary that was completed 45 years ago this Christmas. The rug is the original and there have been few changes needed because the original builders built very well. So our desire has been to make plans that will serve for another generation. For example, this meant choosing a much better grade of carpet to achieve the goal.
God has blessed us with a trustee chair, Shaun Harrington, who is able to map out the project and keep it on schedule. He has also sent a helpful sheetrock contractor and is continuing to send willing volunteer workers so that we are looking to complete the carpet and wall renovations before Christmas.
Just like in the OT, I believe there is a sense among us that it is a privilege to be called upon to work on God’s house. We are honored to be chosen to equip it to better fulfill its mission as a tool of the people of God for the work of God in worship, service to others and discipleship. Our gifts and labor are investments in the spiritual well-being of the next generation.
The annual service of ordination for new ministers is one of the highlights of the church year. This year it had a decidedly international texture. Seven people were ordained; five men and two women. One of them was pastor Par Thoo, who just graduated from Burmese Bible school and has been pastoring at Utica Karen Wesleyan Church. He was wearing a bright blue plaid Karen coat. A Karen soloist named Snowbell sang in English and then partnered with a Karen tenor as lead singers with the Karen choir. Parts of the service were interpreted by Saw Kler for the members of the Karen congregation. General Superintendent JoAnne Lyon illustrated her message with powerful anecdotes from her mission travels in Africa and Asia. And after the ordinations were completed she gave each ordinand a handmade cross purchased in Sierra Leone, South Africa or Colombia. JoAnne and I, Pastor Eric and Magda, Ben Mackey and Kim attended. Nancy Zecher, Marilyn Wilsch, Brenda VanDuser, Cindy Center and her granddaughter came too because Roberta Davis of our district’s Wesleyan Women ministry was also among those ordained. The service was hosted by one of our district’s largest churches, Crosswinds Wesleyan in Canandaigua.
What a joy for JoAnne and I to attend Burmese Bible School (BBS) graduation on Saturday, Oct. 1. The school has been organized to meet the need for pastors to serve the burgeoning population of Burmese speaking immigrants. Many of these immigrants are Christians as they come from ethnic groups influenced by the tremendous pioneering missionary ministry of Adoniram Judson. Both Pastor Eric and I have occasionally taught at the school along with many other pastors from our district. It is taught in Burmese so we teach through a translator. I have taught courses in church leadership and in homiletics. Pastor Eric has taught theology. One of the greatest joys was to see the three Burmese churches of our district all gathered to celebrate with the graduates. Youth choirs from the mainly Chin congregation at Midler Avenue and from the chiefly Karen congregation at Utica and from the Burmese group at Lyncourt all sang as did the BBS choir. I was impressed with the thought as I saw all the Burmese faces: I am helping to train shepherds for all these. It is a big privilege and also a weighty responsibility.
When I was a young pastor, I didn’t understand the importance of celebration. I guess I must have ignored the fact that the OT has a regular schedule of feasts for the Israelites to be involved in. Maybe it came from the the everyday nature of dairy farming where I grew up. Maybe it was because celebration in our culture often has an unhealthy and unnecessary association with drinking alcohol. But over the years, I have discovered the importance of the Bible’s example of taking time to celebrate in wholesome ways.
So, for example, this last weekend at Community Wesleyan, we took time to celebrate. It was the Celebration Sunday of our 50th Anniversary Makeover Campaign. So we took time out to celebrate. We put up the tents outside, had chicken barbeque and brought in the watermelon and ice cream. It was a great picnic and it lent a air of festivity to our event that it would not otherwise have had. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
