This week our sermon at church was the calling to service of the disciples as told in the book of Mark. I appreciate this scripture because it shows the dedication of the disciples to Jesus?And it always makes me wonder, if I was in the same situation would I be so willing to drop everything and just follow this person? And then I realize, we are in the same situation. God is calling us to move into action. To follow someone, Jesus, whom we have never met before blindly into the world. We must trust that He will lead us the right way and not into any danger that we can not handle. Are we willing?
Our pastor challenged us to think of a Bible story or verse that we relates to our personal story. I have a few that I could relate I suppose but the one that came to me yesterday is similar to the commissioning of the disciples. There is one version that talks about a man coming to Jesus and asking what he must to do follow Him. Jesus says the man must drop everything and follow. The man hesitates and asks Jesus for some time before he follows, saying that he needs to take care of a few things first.
I think often times that is me. I will feel the call to do something, but instead of my first reaction being, "Okay, let's do this God." I am more of a "Ah, okay I will totally do that, but first I would like to do x,y and z." I know that may come as a shock to some because I have a rather spontaneous nature and am usually up for anything but when I comes to big projects or things that I am uncertain on, I hesitate and wonder if I will be able to do it before I jump in.
If I am striving to live a life fully dedicated to God, I need to remember that all of the other stuff will be taken care of. God has a plan for us and if we are living with an open mind and an open heart, we will be lead in the right direction and everything will be provided for us. This not to say that there will not be work involved because there always is. This is just to say that if we don't worry about the small stuff, the journey will be better.
The challenge is always to put our full trust in God and what he has in store for us. For his plans are greater than anything we could come up with, and when we really jump feet first into something the results are often beyond our greatest imagination.
I admire the disciples that just dropped their nets and followed Jesus when he called them by name. They were willing to drop everything when asked and to not worry about what was going to happen. I strive to have that same mentality, to be willing to go in whatever direction I am called to. Because let's be honest, I would have never imagined I would be where I am today, and it is a better place then I would have put myself without God. So the challenge this week is to listen to the call and be willing to jump in without worrying about the consequences and without worrying about all the small stuff. To put in the work necessary to be ready for when the call comes, because you better believe that God has the most powerful cell phone and that call always comes through!
Until next time,
~Michelle
Monday, January 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Friends are friends forever
I really like the daycare that I have Emerson at. It is a church/christian based daycare, the teachers are super nice and very approachable. But the things I like the most is that they call everyone in the daycare friends. My nephew also goes to daycare there, he will be 4 next month and when I was going to start taking Emerson there, Xander said to his Mom, "Emerson is not my cousin, he is my friend." Even though Emerson is still his cousin, I thought it was adorable that Xander called him a friend. Everyone is a friend, sometimes their friends hurt them, or do bad things, and sometimes their friends play nice with them and share their food and toys but they are always friends. We could learn a lot from a bunch of kids in daycare and kids in general.
Kids don't care where you came from, how your day is going, how much money you have or what you look like. Kids just care if you are there to play with you and how you treat them and others around you.They give love and affection without much thought to it and are always excited to see you again.
In the New Testament, there is a story of children wanting to see Jesus and the adults were trying to stop them. Jesus told the people to let the children go to him. He says that we must have the mind of a child to get into Heaven. Jesus was calling us to think more like children. We are suppose to be open to new ideas, new paths, and new adventures. Think about kids, they just want to learn everything and figure out how everything interacts and they always want new friends. To find joy in the moment to worry less and to love one another.
How can you not love someone that you call a friend? When you talk about someone being your friend it is someone you respect, trust, love and enjoy spending time with.
If we are truly following God's word we would treat everyone with those characteristics. Jesus is the glue that sticks us all together. We strive to follow his path, to be as much like Jesus as possible. Maybe the challenge this week is to refer to everyone we meet as friend? Sure people might look at you a little strange when you greet them but maybe not. I am curious to see how this would change your outlook and the way you treat those around you. I am going to take this challenge and encourage you all to do that same.
The wonderful thing about friendship like love is that there is more then enough to go around and it multiples and spreads. So will you take the challenge? And greet everyone you encounter this week as friend? I hope so, and I look forward to hearing how this affected your week.
Keep walking the faith, and share your thoughts, feelings and reactions. I look forward to hearing for you friends!
Until next time,
~Michelle
Kids don't care where you came from, how your day is going, how much money you have or what you look like. Kids just care if you are there to play with you and how you treat them and others around you.They give love and affection without much thought to it and are always excited to see you again.
In the New Testament, there is a story of children wanting to see Jesus and the adults were trying to stop them. Jesus told the people to let the children go to him. He says that we must have the mind of a child to get into Heaven. Jesus was calling us to think more like children. We are suppose to be open to new ideas, new paths, and new adventures. Think about kids, they just want to learn everything and figure out how everything interacts and they always want new friends. To find joy in the moment to worry less and to love one another.
How can you not love someone that you call a friend? When you talk about someone being your friend it is someone you respect, trust, love and enjoy spending time with.
If we are truly following God's word we would treat everyone with those characteristics. Jesus is the glue that sticks us all together. We strive to follow his path, to be as much like Jesus as possible. Maybe the challenge this week is to refer to everyone we meet as friend? Sure people might look at you a little strange when you greet them but maybe not. I am curious to see how this would change your outlook and the way you treat those around you. I am going to take this challenge and encourage you all to do that same.
The wonderful thing about friendship like love is that there is more then enough to go around and it multiples and spreads. So will you take the challenge? And greet everyone you encounter this week as friend? I hope so, and I look forward to hearing how this affected your week.
Keep walking the faith, and share your thoughts, feelings and reactions. I look forward to hearing for you friends!
Until next time,
~Michelle
Monday, January 12, 2015
Struggling
Last weekend I was in Grand Island with about 1200 other people. We were there for the Great Plains Conference One Event. An event created to bring the youth of the Great Plains Conference (Kansas and Nebraska) to one location to praise God and unite the two states.
For me the most outstanding part of the event was an illusionist named Danny Ray. I have always been fascinated by magic and this was no different. He did some mind blowing card tricks, and one with a quarter, a can of Diet Coke Lime, and a lime but the one that sticks out as most powerful was a trick where he escaped from a straight jacket, one that was too small for him to begin with. He brought an incredible message about struggle. That even through life's struggles with God and when we rely on God the impossible is truly possible.
As we watched him struggle on stage to get out of this straight jacket, I began thinking of all those in our community that are struggling and the hopelessness that often occurs in the depths of our struggles. It took me to a place of deep despair and worry. I thought about the youth that surrounded me and what they must be thinking while watching this. I wondered if they felt as I did like there was no way for him to get out, that we were going to watch him exhaust himself on the stage. But as the struggle continued and he began to make progress on his restraints I started to feel hope. I remembered that all things are possible in God and that even in our darkest hours, God is there to show us the way out.
No situation is truly hopeless as long as we have God on our side. And the good news is that God never leaves us. He walks along side us, he carries us when we need a lift, he brings light to the darkness. And that to me is great news! Danny Ray escaped from the too small straight jacket and it was amazing! He was out of breath and looked exhausted, showing us that it wasn't easy but working through the struggle never is. But he gave a message of hope, a message that it is possible to break free, it is possible to accomplish the impossible. And that really there is no such thing as impossible when there is God.
There will be times of struggle, there will be times where things seem hopeless, but those are the times that we need to remember to rely on God. The help may come in many different forms, but it will always come. What are you struggling with this week and how are you going to rely on God to help you through?
Until next time,
~Michelle
For me the most outstanding part of the event was an illusionist named Danny Ray. I have always been fascinated by magic and this was no different. He did some mind blowing card tricks, and one with a quarter, a can of Diet Coke Lime, and a lime but the one that sticks out as most powerful was a trick where he escaped from a straight jacket, one that was too small for him to begin with. He brought an incredible message about struggle. That even through life's struggles with God and when we rely on God the impossible is truly possible.
As we watched him struggle on stage to get out of this straight jacket, I began thinking of all those in our community that are struggling and the hopelessness that often occurs in the depths of our struggles. It took me to a place of deep despair and worry. I thought about the youth that surrounded me and what they must be thinking while watching this. I wondered if they felt as I did like there was no way for him to get out, that we were going to watch him exhaust himself on the stage. But as the struggle continued and he began to make progress on his restraints I started to feel hope. I remembered that all things are possible in God and that even in our darkest hours, God is there to show us the way out.
No situation is truly hopeless as long as we have God on our side. And the good news is that God never leaves us. He walks along side us, he carries us when we need a lift, he brings light to the darkness. And that to me is great news! Danny Ray escaped from the too small straight jacket and it was amazing! He was out of breath and looked exhausted, showing us that it wasn't easy but working through the struggle never is. But he gave a message of hope, a message that it is possible to break free, it is possible to accomplish the impossible. And that really there is no such thing as impossible when there is God.
There will be times of struggle, there will be times where things seem hopeless, but those are the times that we need to remember to rely on God. The help may come in many different forms, but it will always come. What are you struggling with this week and how are you going to rely on God to help you through?
Until next time,
~Michelle
Monday, January 5, 2015
Church appropriate vs Outside world appropriate
A month or so ago, in my youth group I was showing a video from Shrek 2. The kids loved the clip and we had a great discussion but they brought up a video that I had to watch. They said that it was amazing and were astonished that I had not found this video before. (This is where I know that I am getting old, because I don't spend endless hours on You Tube, I don't see the point.) So, the next week, they asked me if I had checked out this video. I told them I had forgotten but that I would get around to it.
Two weeks ago, I was helping one of my youth organize some food for our Foodnet program. She had again asked about the video and I said I would go right upstairs and watch it. She looked at me like I might be crazy, which then lead me to ask if it was church appropriate. There was an adult volunteer that was helping us and she asked is there a different between church appropriate and home appropriate? My youth quickly answered with a yes. Which lead this same adult to ask why and should there be?
I have really had to stop and think about those very questions. I mean church appropriate is such an interesting concept isn't it? I mean what really is church appropriate, how does one deem what is and isn't church appropriate? I was talking to a couple of other young people the other day about this very thing because I am still rolling it around in my head. One of them said, "Yes, there is a difference because you can't bring everything to the church." That comment was like a slap to the back of the head. "What do you mean there are things you can't bring to the church?" I asked. She says "Well, like there are some videos and such that are hilarious that will make you feel better if you are sad but they aren't videos you should watch at church."
She walked away before I could ask her what those videos would be, but it made me think even harder about all of this. We want the church to be a place where people can be themselves, bring whatever is troubling them, or whatever is bringing them joy and share it with others. Yet, even a 12 year old girl already believes that you can't bring your true self to the church. When did we become another place where people have to put on a mask and not show others when they are struggling. If this is really what is happening, the church has failed. We are supposed to be the place where you can bring your sick, weary, and tired. Where we will all gather around each other and help each other out. Not a place for people to come to show off how well everything is going and then go and struggle in silence and loneliness.
Sorry, I went off on a tangent, a blog for a different day. Back to church appropriate. What do you think? Are there things that shouldn't be shown or discussed in the church? And if there are is it okay for you to discuss them outside of the church? Jesus says that our bodies are a temple of God. We sing songs that talk about us being the church? So is there really a difference between church appropriate and outside world appropriate? And if so how to we distinguish what those things are and when each is appropriate to discuss? I am still rolling this all around in my head, and am not sure where it will all land, but I would love to hear your thoughts.
Now, I still have not seen this video, I keep meaning to because I am curious as to what they are talking about but I keep getting distracted by the cute kitten videos. :-) I hope your weeks are starting off well and I look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Until next time,
~Michelle
Two weeks ago, I was helping one of my youth organize some food for our Foodnet program. She had again asked about the video and I said I would go right upstairs and watch it. She looked at me like I might be crazy, which then lead me to ask if it was church appropriate. There was an adult volunteer that was helping us and she asked is there a different between church appropriate and home appropriate? My youth quickly answered with a yes. Which lead this same adult to ask why and should there be?
I have really had to stop and think about those very questions. I mean church appropriate is such an interesting concept isn't it? I mean what really is church appropriate, how does one deem what is and isn't church appropriate? I was talking to a couple of other young people the other day about this very thing because I am still rolling it around in my head. One of them said, "Yes, there is a difference because you can't bring everything to the church." That comment was like a slap to the back of the head. "What do you mean there are things you can't bring to the church?" I asked. She says "Well, like there are some videos and such that are hilarious that will make you feel better if you are sad but they aren't videos you should watch at church."
She walked away before I could ask her what those videos would be, but it made me think even harder about all of this. We want the church to be a place where people can be themselves, bring whatever is troubling them, or whatever is bringing them joy and share it with others. Yet, even a 12 year old girl already believes that you can't bring your true self to the church. When did we become another place where people have to put on a mask and not show others when they are struggling. If this is really what is happening, the church has failed. We are supposed to be the place where you can bring your sick, weary, and tired. Where we will all gather around each other and help each other out. Not a place for people to come to show off how well everything is going and then go and struggle in silence and loneliness.
Sorry, I went off on a tangent, a blog for a different day. Back to church appropriate. What do you think? Are there things that shouldn't be shown or discussed in the church? And if there are is it okay for you to discuss them outside of the church? Jesus says that our bodies are a temple of God. We sing songs that talk about us being the church? So is there really a difference between church appropriate and outside world appropriate? And if so how to we distinguish what those things are and when each is appropriate to discuss? I am still rolling this all around in my head, and am not sure where it will all land, but I would love to hear your thoughts.
Now, I still have not seen this video, I keep meaning to because I am curious as to what they are talking about but I keep getting distracted by the cute kitten videos. :-) I hope your weeks are starting off well and I look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Until next time,
~Michelle
Monday, December 29, 2014
A time for new beginnings
Happy New Year all! A time where everyone evaluates what the last year has been like and what they are going to change for this one. I am not sure why we always wait until Jan 1st to start changing things, maybe because it is a good mark on the calendar. The point is, it is a time for change, to start new and fresh and do it better in the new year then we did in the last.
I think the mistake we make is that often times we have such high hopes for what we will get accomplished in the new year that we don't make them attainable. Like making a goal to run a marathon when you have never run a day in your life. I am not saying that it would not be possible to run a marathon in the new year, if you start training right away and stick with it, you could totally do it but it is a huge goal. Having large goals are important but it is also important to have small goals. Small goals that might lead to your large goal. To stick with our marathon example, maybe you make smaller goals to run a 5k in the spring and a 10k in the fall and then in 2016 you can run a full marathon.
Our relationship with God is like running a marathon. It is a long term goal. Yes we should all have the best possible relationship with God. We should fully rely on him for our every decision, our every move, through the good and the bad...but the reality, at least for me, is that I often fail at this. I forget that he will guide me through it all, and I start thinking that I am smarter then God and that I really know that is good for me. Now, I don't full out have that kind of conversation with God but when I act selfishly, which I do often, it is like saying those things. And then I must remind myself of the truth. So for a goal of the New Year, I want to better my relationship with God. Become more dedicated to that relationship. I have a goal of seeing and connecting with friends that I don't see that often, to which at least once a month, I will hang out with someone that I have not seen for awhile. I have a group of old work friends that we always talk about getting together and never do. I have a friend that is living in Denver that I haven't seen in over 6 months, and I don't talk to her as much as I should to be the good friend that I like to think that I am. I will continue to reach out to these friends, because being a better friend to them and others, makes me a better disciple of God. Because being truthful, honest and loving to them, means that I am being truthful, honest and loving to God. Just a small goal, to get me to the larger goal of having a better relationship with God and being a better disciple of his on the ground.
Just something to think about. How are you going to make yourself better in 2015?
Keep leaving your input, get others involved and share. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
~Michelle
I think the mistake we make is that often times we have such high hopes for what we will get accomplished in the new year that we don't make them attainable. Like making a goal to run a marathon when you have never run a day in your life. I am not saying that it would not be possible to run a marathon in the new year, if you start training right away and stick with it, you could totally do it but it is a huge goal. Having large goals are important but it is also important to have small goals. Small goals that might lead to your large goal. To stick with our marathon example, maybe you make smaller goals to run a 5k in the spring and a 10k in the fall and then in 2016 you can run a full marathon.
Our relationship with God is like running a marathon. It is a long term goal. Yes we should all have the best possible relationship with God. We should fully rely on him for our every decision, our every move, through the good and the bad...but the reality, at least for me, is that I often fail at this. I forget that he will guide me through it all, and I start thinking that I am smarter then God and that I really know that is good for me. Now, I don't full out have that kind of conversation with God but when I act selfishly, which I do often, it is like saying those things. And then I must remind myself of the truth. So for a goal of the New Year, I want to better my relationship with God. Become more dedicated to that relationship. I have a goal of seeing and connecting with friends that I don't see that often, to which at least once a month, I will hang out with someone that I have not seen for awhile. I have a group of old work friends that we always talk about getting together and never do. I have a friend that is living in Denver that I haven't seen in over 6 months, and I don't talk to her as much as I should to be the good friend that I like to think that I am. I will continue to reach out to these friends, because being a better friend to them and others, makes me a better disciple of God. Because being truthful, honest and loving to them, means that I am being truthful, honest and loving to God. Just a small goal, to get me to the larger goal of having a better relationship with God and being a better disciple of his on the ground.
Just something to think about. How are you going to make yourself better in 2015?
Keep leaving your input, get others involved and share. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
~Michelle
Monday, December 22, 2014
And wuv tru wuv will fowow you foweva
Sorry for the delay in writing today. I have been having problems
figuring out exactly what I wanted to talk about this week. In the past
that would mean that I would just not write but since I have promised to
write once a week, here we go.
We have made it! It is the final week of Advent. The week of love. For the last four weeks we have been working on being prepared for the great celebration of the coming of Jesus. Are you ready?
We have been talking about being prepared, finding your passion, and figuring out how to share the word most effectively to those around us. What have you done to get prepared?
The theme this week is love, hence the title. If you can name the movie it is from, I will give you a prize! In our society we talk about true love all the time. Often we relate it to the feelings we have to our significant other but in truth I think the only one that can give us true love is God. By letting his son be born and having Him sacrifice himself for our sins, His true love is shown. The challenge for us as humans is to love each other in a way that is as close as possible to that of God's love for us. We are the hands and feet for God in the world. Love is a powerful tool and I feel often times it is underestimated. Media has watered down the power of love to something that is wishy washy and can easily be turned off. But it just isn't true. When we are talking about true love, Godly love, it is powerful. We need to figure out what we can do with the love that has been given to us, and how to show it to others.
Today, I was at the has station, filling my car up and some person that I didn't know paid for my gas! That to me is true, Godly love. It was not a big display, although super nice, but it was a true display of love. This time of year, people feel the need to show what average people call "random acts of kindness" but why should it stop on Dec 25? Even though Advent is almost over it is a yearly reminder that we have to keep preparing and working to be ready for the return of God.
So how are you going to finish this season strong that will carry you into the new year? I want to hear from you and your thoughts.
Merry Christmas all! I hope you have a joyous celebration as we continue to prepare for the 2nd coming of the Lord!
Until next time.
~Michelle
We have been talking about being prepared, finding your passion, and figuring out how to share the word most effectively to those around us. What have you done to get prepared?
The theme this week is love, hence the title. If you can name the movie it is from, I will give you a prize! In our society we talk about true love all the time. Often we relate it to the feelings we have to our significant other but in truth I think the only one that can give us true love is God. By letting his son be born and having Him sacrifice himself for our sins, His true love is shown. The challenge for us as humans is to love each other in a way that is as close as possible to that of God's love for us. We are the hands and feet for God in the world. Love is a powerful tool and I feel often times it is underestimated. Media has watered down the power of love to something that is wishy washy and can easily be turned off. But it just isn't true. When we are talking about true love, Godly love, it is powerful. We need to figure out what we can do with the love that has been given to us, and how to show it to others.
Today, I was at the has station, filling my car up and some person that I didn't know paid for my gas! That to me is true, Godly love. It was not a big display, although super nice, but it was a true display of love. This time of year, people feel the need to show what average people call "random acts of kindness" but why should it stop on Dec 25? Even though Advent is almost over it is a yearly reminder that we have to keep preparing and working to be ready for the return of God.
So how are you going to finish this season strong that will carry you into the new year? I want to hear from you and your thoughts.
Merry Christmas all! I hope you have a joyous celebration as we continue to prepare for the 2nd coming of the Lord!
Until next time.
~Michelle
Monday, December 15, 2014
Is Sunday Service outdated?
As I was driving to church yesterday I began noticing the multitude of people out and about and I started wondering where they were going. Some were obvious, like the lady jogging with her child in a stroller and her dog on a lease, and the guy in his biking gearing on the bike path. But others were not so much, like all the people driving around in their cars or just walking down the street. I wondered how many of them were going to church, or brunch, or just working out and then starting another busy day in their lives.
I certainly don't know where all those people were going, nor do I know how many of them do or don't attend church on a regular basis, but as I was looking across my congregations on Sunday, I wondered how many people we are missing because we do service on Sunday mornings and really no other times. I mean sure we have a Saturday night service once a month and we do a Wednesday noon service once a month as well. But at the same time how many people are we turning away because we are still under the impression that to worship God we must do it on a Sunday morning and in the church?
The question I keep hearing is where are all the young people? Why are they not coming to church anymore? And honestly, it is kind of a hard question for me to answer because I don't know. I mean I am at church, all the time really. It is my life's work, I feel that the work that the church is doing both on Sundays and throughout the week is important so I am not sure where they are or why they don't feel the need or want to come to church on Sunday.
But then again if I am honest with myself, if I look back a few years before I had a job at the church I remember that I too was one of those young people that didn't go to church. And I can honestly tell you why I didn't. I didn't feel connected. I have always believed in God, and in Jesus Christ as my savior. I grew up in the church, so I have always known the importance of the church and the importance of worship. But yet once I moved out of my parents' house and went to college, I stopped going to church. Part of that has to do with my Grandfather's death, it was timed at a point in my life where I was really questioning what I believed and didn't feel like I fit in the Catholic church but didn't know where I really did fit. And so it became easy to just be mad at the Catholics, and not look for anywhere else to go. The ironic part is that every summer from when I was 16 to when I was 22 I worked at Camp Norwesca, a United Methodist Camp and I knew that my connection was there. I knew that the Untied Methodist Church was where I would end up, I guess it was just all part of the journey.
Even with my strong connection to Camp and to a key pastor or two in my life, I still didn't seek out a church in my community. When I moved to Atlanta it was the same thing. I was a United Methodist missionary and still didn't attend a church regularly because I didn't feel connected. There was no real reason for me to go.
So the question is what was missing? What would it have taken for me to get involved. Well between ages 18-25 I can tell you for me it was a service where I didn't have to wake up so early! I love to sleep in and the last thing I wanted(still want most days) was to sleep in! And secondly, I didn't know where I wanted to go. I needed a partner in crime so to speak. Someone that would have invited me to church, sat with me, included me in what was going on. And that right there is key I believe, at least for me.
So what is it for you? What is keeping you away from the church? Or are you attending regularly and in that case what is keeping you going? What traditions should we be doing away with and what ones should we be keeping? The season of Advent and the beginning of a new year is a time for change. Let's transform the church together and make it a place that is welcoming, friendly and gets people involved again. Tell me what needs do you want to quench?
For all those in school good luck with your finals this week! I look forward to hearing from you all.
With love,
Michelle
I certainly don't know where all those people were going, nor do I know how many of them do or don't attend church on a regular basis, but as I was looking across my congregations on Sunday, I wondered how many people we are missing because we do service on Sunday mornings and really no other times. I mean sure we have a Saturday night service once a month and we do a Wednesday noon service once a month as well. But at the same time how many people are we turning away because we are still under the impression that to worship God we must do it on a Sunday morning and in the church?
The question I keep hearing is where are all the young people? Why are they not coming to church anymore? And honestly, it is kind of a hard question for me to answer because I don't know. I mean I am at church, all the time really. It is my life's work, I feel that the work that the church is doing both on Sundays and throughout the week is important so I am not sure where they are or why they don't feel the need or want to come to church on Sunday.
But then again if I am honest with myself, if I look back a few years before I had a job at the church I remember that I too was one of those young people that didn't go to church. And I can honestly tell you why I didn't. I didn't feel connected. I have always believed in God, and in Jesus Christ as my savior. I grew up in the church, so I have always known the importance of the church and the importance of worship. But yet once I moved out of my parents' house and went to college, I stopped going to church. Part of that has to do with my Grandfather's death, it was timed at a point in my life where I was really questioning what I believed and didn't feel like I fit in the Catholic church but didn't know where I really did fit. And so it became easy to just be mad at the Catholics, and not look for anywhere else to go. The ironic part is that every summer from when I was 16 to when I was 22 I worked at Camp Norwesca, a United Methodist Camp and I knew that my connection was there. I knew that the Untied Methodist Church was where I would end up, I guess it was just all part of the journey.
Even with my strong connection to Camp and to a key pastor or two in my life, I still didn't seek out a church in my community. When I moved to Atlanta it was the same thing. I was a United Methodist missionary and still didn't attend a church regularly because I didn't feel connected. There was no real reason for me to go.
So the question is what was missing? What would it have taken for me to get involved. Well between ages 18-25 I can tell you for me it was a service where I didn't have to wake up so early! I love to sleep in and the last thing I wanted(still want most days) was to sleep in! And secondly, I didn't know where I wanted to go. I needed a partner in crime so to speak. Someone that would have invited me to church, sat with me, included me in what was going on. And that right there is key I believe, at least for me.
So what is it for you? What is keeping you away from the church? Or are you attending regularly and in that case what is keeping you going? What traditions should we be doing away with and what ones should we be keeping? The season of Advent and the beginning of a new year is a time for change. Let's transform the church together and make it a place that is welcoming, friendly and gets people involved again. Tell me what needs do you want to quench?
For all those in school good luck with your finals this week! I look forward to hearing from you all.
With love,
Michelle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)