We believe God created, the heavens, the earth, and all the creatures that dwell upon it.
God creates new beginnings.
We believe that God is never far away. God is ever-present, ever-vigilant and has been active in our lives throughout history.
We believe God is merciful and forgiving. God came to us in the person of Jesus to be a light for those trapped in darkness, and to preach Good News to those longing for
understanding and relief.
We believe God promises good. God promised us a savior, and when his saving act was to die for our sakes, having promised that we would never be alone, God raised Jesus up from death.
We believe God’s pursuit of the human heart and soul is persistent, for the Holy Spirit seeks us out to embrace us with the message of forgiveness, hope, peace, joy, and love.
We believe that as the church, Christ’s body in the world, we are called to wear and carry the Spirit’s message out into the world.
A new beginning is today. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Loving God, we sing your praises today and give you thanks, because it is the right and good thing for us to do. We must confess our distress over the great loss of land, life and property occurring all around us, during the past months and weeks; whether by hurricane winds, overwhelming floods, raging fires or human folly. Like the Israelites in the time of the exile, your people are in need of your comfort, and assurance of relief and recovery. We pray that you will bring peace to the “elements in commotion,” for the sake of your creation and your people. Could it be your will that we should be holding our breath in anticipation and preparation of the next trial? Our heads are spinning from the overwhelming need of our fellows. Give us direction we ask you, in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
At the workshop I attended in Arizona last week, we clergy were asked to decide which stage in the congregational life cycle described our current setting— in other words what is going on by choosing: Vision, Relationships, Program, or Management as the focus of the congregation. Vision is the focus at the congregation’s birth (Vrpm). Vision and Relationships (VRpm) are the focus in the congregation’s infancy. Vision and Program in it’s childhood; Vision, Relationships, and Program (VRPm) in its adolescence, and all 4 (VRPM) when the congregation arrives at adulthood. As a congregation ages and declines, vision, relationship and program drop off until management predominates —vrpM. I will confess I was drawn to join the relationships group, but then thought of the programs we have added in the past 5 years, realizing that the ministries and programs we have undertaken have strengthened our relationships and in turn this community of the faithful.. As we seek to balance the budget money to support these programs has been reduced, but we would do ourselves growth-harm if we do not find a way to support them and shore them up once again. I have some ideas, how about you?
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