Pastor’s Message for October 2009
As I write this article I am remembering the sermon from Rev. Bernard Evans last Sunday. He spoke about the church being a testimony to the enemy and to the world. He spoke about living with “intent.” We are to live our lives with purpose for the Kingdom of God. As we go through the day to day of life, it is easy to get bogged down with all we carry in our workplace and family. It is important to remember that we live with a purpose and intent to see the Kingdom of God go forth even as we carry our day to day responsibilities. For me personally, I have to make sure that I do not miss out on the bigger picture. I can get so caught up with my personal concerns that I miss out on the bigger picture.
One of the things that I appreciate about all of you is that you “get it.” You understand the elements of workplace and family but also the kingdom. Last week we had an ordination service for Matt Slisher, and many of you helped. Today we are having computer trouble in the office and Gary Ahlquist and Dan Pedersen are working to fix the problem. The other night Henk DeSmidt was planting bushes and trees around the property while Fran Kreider was teaching “Kids Club.” Last Saturday our elders met for four hours to discuss and pray about the church. Jacek is meeting with me today to discuss our new missions committee. Bobby Luu is staying in touch with me about people who are physically in need within the church while Mike Slocum is meeting with me Saturday to discuss some more outreaches to the city and Henrietta. Our youth pastor, Ben Clark, this morning drove around to several of our youths’ schools to join them at the schools’ flag pole to pray. These are but a few of the people that are involved at the church during any part of the week.
It goes far beyond all of the things in the church. It’s the way you relate as people. This week I was an hour away from Rochester with Harry Vellekoop spending some time together and listening to a speaker talk to us about change. While I was away, our mini-van’s battery died. There was my wife stuck in a parking lot. She began to call some people and got a hold of Eric Pfeif who came over and got our van going and got her home. Sheryl had called a few of you before getting in touch with Eric but you were not home at the time she called. All of you called and said to her, “If we would have gotten the call we would have helped.”
In all we are doing as a church I want to encourage you that we are being the “church.” We are living with intent to see the kingdom go forth. We are loving one another and helping one another. Sometimes we only see the trees, but I want to encourage you that there is a beautiful forest here at our church. We are establishing the Kingdom of God in the world, here and in every life. The love and kindness of God is in our church family. We may have moments one with another but they are few and far between because there is a greater “intent” that goes beyond ourselves.
Thank you for being the church.
Pastor Phil
