All on Board!
Dear Grace Church Family,
This past week, I had the opportunity to participate in an onboarding experience with some of the lay leaders at the church. The onboarding was facilitated by Rev. Tim Smiley. Tim has served as both a pastor and a District Superintendent. He is also a very good friend of both Pastor Steve and Pastor Gary. It was a deeply meaningful time of listening and learning for me as your incoming Sr. Pastor.
It is hard to believe that I have been here almost two months now. While that is such a short time, I feel like I am getting to know some of you through the listening sessions, lunches, and coffees. It is time well spent. The onboarding session was another time for me to invest in getting to know the DNA of the church and the hopes and dreams of leadership.
I will look for ways to share some of what the leadership’s hopes and dreams were for the church, but I wanted to share with yousome commitments they made. They made a commitment to offer support to me as I find my way. They shared they would be patient, recognizing there is so much for me to learn. They shared that they would accept that there will be changes along the way. They committed to be good listeners and communicate with respect and positivity. They also committed to pray for me.
Community that commits to love like this is community that can change the world. On my right wrist is a tattoo that says, “love.” It was meant to say, “Strength to love.” The artist said my wrist was too small for that, so it simply says, “love.” It is much easier to simply give in to our basic nature and act out of our instinct. Allowing ourselves to be formed and shaped by our faith and the Holy Spirit of God is a surrendering to God’s will for our lives and this world. May we all be empowered with this type of strength, the strength to love.
The title of my sermon for this week is, “Suit Up,” I encourage you to read Ephesians 6:10-20 to begin reflecting on this text and its message for us today! Don’t forget to invite a friend to church! Be sure to like and share the posts you find meaningful—it’s easy evangelism!
My questions for this week:
1. Who do you think would make a great small group leader? We are working to grow our small group ministry!
2. I’d love to hear how God has blessed you this week. The sharing of our blessings with others is an easy way to give witness to God’s love alive and active in the world! This is evangelism!! Share your blessings with me and with others! God is so good!
So grateful to be…
With you on the journey,
Pastor Michelle