The Heat is On!

As I write this, we are at the beginning of the first sustained days of warm, sunny weather, which reminds us that summer is here.

Along with summer, many of you will be spending more time at “the lake”, taking family vacations, or simply enjoying a change of pace. You might be working hard on special house projects or spending a lot more time in the garden.

With such beautiful weather, it may be tempting to hit the golf course early on Sunday morning, or ‘take time off’ of church for the season. My hope is that instead, you will use this summer to renew or even begin your commitment to being a disciple of Jesus. In that spirit, I hope that when you are on vacation you will seek out a worship service where you are, and that when you are home you will continue to faithfully participate in the life of this congregation by joining together in worship.

Once the Session receives our consultant’s final report, we will be working on implementing some recommendations sooner than others. The coming months are crucial as we move forward. Each and every person in our congregation is needed in order to be successful in our transformation. Now is the time to actively seek to grow spiritually, and to consider just where and how the Holy Spirit is leading you to be active in the ministry of this congregation.

This summer, I want to issue a challenge to everyone to do three things every day.

1. 
   
   “Read” the Bible: If you aren’t already in the habit of daily reading, start now. “Reading” might mean getting your hands on an audio version of the Bible in order to listen to it. If that’s what it takes, go for it! If you aren’t sure where to begin, the Gospel of Mark is a great way to get started. It is full of brief stories about Jesus, his ministry, and his teaching. If you’re looking for other ideas, Alan and I would be more than happy to help you find what works best for you.
2. 
   
   Pray consistently: Take time each day to remember others in prayer, and to spend time listening for God’s voice in your heart.
3. 
   
   Act: Look for ways each day to exercise your faith in Jesus Christ. Being a disciple of Jesus means putting what we learn from Scripture into practice, and acting on what you sense the Holy Spirit telling you to do. As you exercise your faith each day, be thinking about what you are most passionate about. What excites you or gives you energy in putting your faith into action? Chances are God is calling you to fulfill that kind of role in this congregation!

There you have it! I hope you’ll take this challenge seriously because we’ll be asking you what you’re reading, how you’ve seen prayer answered, and how you are acting out your faith. The heat is on for a “Summer 2010 Challenge”.

I know I look forward to hearing how it is shaping your life.

Blessings,

Anna Parkinson