Joy Notes from Pastor Joyce  

One of the three topics I addressed during the “State of the Church” sermon was commitment.  I’m going to repeat in this newsletter article some of what I had to say about church size and how the church functions at different sizes.  It doesn’t have anything to do with how friendly the church is, or even the “family atmosphere.”  If a church is founded on principles of being open and friendly, it usually remains open and friendly regardless of how big it gets, or how large the worship services become.

I am very appreciative of the work done by Dr. Alice Mann, who has done extensive research and writing about the transition churches undergo when they move from one “church size” to another.  Understanding these dynamics helps churches to communicate and work together with pastors, so that decisions are made and conflicts handled in a Christ-like and Christ-centered manner.

When a church grows to worship between 150 and 450, the pastor or pastors must recruit and empower church leaders to help oversee and manage the ministries.  The image or  analogy for this size church is that of a garden.  Areas of  ministry, or groups within the church, are likened to rows of vegetables or flowers in the  larger garden.  So Disciple Bible classes, or Sunday School classes, or those who work with the youth, or Connect 4 Christ, or the choirs are “rows” in the garden which need varying kinds of light, nutrients, and watering in order to thrive.  The important thing to remember, though, is that all of the rows are part of the same garden, tended by a gardener – the pastor or pastors, and owned by God.

I really like the image of being part of a God-owned garden . . .

Different “rows” in this great and grand garden mature at different times, need more resources at different times, or may need pruning at different times.  In practical terms this means that any one group or ministry within the church may need more of the resources at certain times of the year than other groups.  It means that some ministries may be more self-sufficient or self-sustaining than others, but are no less important or necessary to the whole community.  It also means that some ministries may always need more care and attention than others, and are so important to the stated mission of the Church to ”make disciples for Christ for the transformation of the world” that we are willing to make sacrifices on their behalf.

Within the next couple of weeks, the Committee on Lay Leadership (commonly known as the Nominating Committee) will begin meeting to make recommendations for church leadership, as well as for the various committees of the church.  The goal will be to match YOUR particular gifts and grace (and all Christians have at least one God-given gift), to the needs and ministries of this church.  Please prayerfully consider on which committee or ministry you might be willing to serve.  Ask questions about what it would entail.  Trust that what you have to offer is exactly what is needed at this particular time and place.

I really like the image of being part of a God-owned garden. It has some biblical and theological implications, since the Bible is full of references to land and how it is tended.  Thank you for your continued prayers for the well being and health of this particular God-owned  garden.

I look forward to seeing you in Sunday School and worship.

Peace and grace,

Joyce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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