Our Trials Together
This weekend, our members will vote on whether to invite Andrew Middlekauff onto the pastor team—that is, assuming a quorum is present. No quorum, no vote.
Years of prayer, fasting, and hard work have led to this, and naturally we all feel the anticipation. We wonder if we can finally put this search behind us and begin the next stage of the journey. The Lord has seen us through many trials, and who knows what the future holds? Only He does, and praise Him for that! When we relinquish our frail sovereignty to Him, there is peace.
The Psalmist writes, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”[Ps. 119:71] I read this and wonder, what have we learned from our trials? How have they prepared us to carry the “eternal weight of glory”? [2 Cor. 4:17]
And I’m not just talking about the trials of the pastor search. Many within our community are struggling. Many carry immense sorrow, pain, and uncertainty. Some are ill. Others are grieving.
Will we “carry each other’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”? [Gal. 6:2] Will we weep with them as Christ wept beside Lazarus’ tomb? Will our compassion, like His, overflow into acts of kindness and generosity? Will we, like Him, embrace suffering on our way to the joy awaiting us just beyond the horizon?
Holy Spirit, move in us, and may our trials drive us to greater acts of love.
Ministry Minute
CHILDRENS
Deacon
Wednesday night culminated our second session of Discovery Club, Rooted and the Parent Equipping class with our first ever Family on Mission event. Over 40 adults and kids gathered for dinner and then we spent time reflecting IN on our own family and how we could be a light OUT in our community.
Thinking of our household as a team who loves, serves, and builds each other up helps to lay the foundation for being on mission together in our neighborhoods, schools, and various extracurricular activities. It doesn’t take perfection, but the power of the Holy Spirit.
What comforting words as we were reminded in Matthew 28 that Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, is with us as we go make disciples by showing and telling them about the grace of God.