Brenda at Garden of Learning is hosting a Gratitude Challenge.
It is a challenge to post once a day about something we are thankful for.
You may read my daily post below and you may also click here to see what others in the Challenge are thankful for as well. If you blog, feel free to hop on board. Just type up your posts each day and then connect your blog post specific blog address to the Linky that Brenda provided at the link above.
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November 6, 2011
Today I am thankful for....
our church.
A little over 5 years ago our family and one other family decided we were tired of driving 75 miles one way to attend a church in our denomination (Mennonite Church USA). (If you want to learn more about who the Mennonites are click HERE.)
My husband had attended Seminary and had a Master's of Divinity.
Seminary was something to keep him occupied while I was working on some intense issues with a counselor. He's never really felt a *call* to pastoral ministry but is a servant and was willing to accept the job placed before him.
One day, at the church we were attending, the dad of the other family said, "You know, someone ought to start a Mennonite church in OUR town."
Hubby looked at him and said, "You're right. SOMEBODY should!"
That was the starting point. From there some rough outlines were scratched out, a meeting place was found, plans were made, and responsibilities were shared. On the first Sunday of November in 2006 we had our first service with our family, their family and a family that lived in the neighborhood of the church, a rented Synagogue.
I was 9 months pregnant that first week. I can't remember all that I did but I do remember we had a young child's Sunday School (led by the two originating fathers), an older Sunday School class that ranged 4th grade up through a freshman in high school (that I taught) and the rest of the adults met for adult Sunday school.
The second Sunday we were there with the same 3 families and ONE NEW ATTENDEE....... a 4 day old baby boy that we called Abram. Honestly, the only thing I remember from that second Sunday was that I was REALLY SORE (Abram was a rough delivery) and that we had not quite fully figured out nursing. I spent most of that morning underneath a large poncho shaped nursing cape trying to keep him latched on WHILE teaching Sunday school. I clearly remember having to continuously tuck my head under my cover and then back out again. I had the lesson planned quite well but had no available hands. So I remember asking the VERY HELPFUL kids to grab things, open books, read aloud, or hold something so I could read. I remember directing them using my words and by flinging my head in the direction I wanted them to go. LOL It was EXHAUSTING but a great memory.
Over the years we have gained families and lost families.
We are quite the motley crew of folks. We have a few who were raised Mennonite. We have a few who have spent their entire life in the Catholic church but liked aspects of our Mennonite faith and are learning the differences between these different faith traditions. We have some (like my family) who grew up in homes that were not churched, accepted a Christian faith in the non-denomination tradition and then became Mennonite as adults. We have a few who admit to being agnostic but strongly value the "stories and lessons of the church" for their children and we have some who fall somewhere in between.
I love having a church only 30 miles from home.
I love having children who are excited about attending church (especially now that they are 7, nearly 5 and nearly 3= they can sit in the pew without tap dancing or wresting--most the time!!!)
I will admit there have been moments where my attitude was dark, selfish, exhausted and even resentful toward God. YET, the great thing about God is that if you are truly seeking to serve HIM He doesn't let you get away with those attitudes for very long.
Along the way I have learned to serve the church as if I were serving Jesus. To have no expectations of return here on Earth. Face it we are too small and we are ALL doing about as much as we personally feel we can muster. Planting a church is hard work but a change in my Spirit along the way gave me a bit of tunnel vision, allowing me to focus my attention on serving the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength and all my mind and to love others better than myself. This change in Spirit (although it SOUNDS like it should have been a GIVEN when one is so involved in the start up of a ministry) has allowed me to experience the unexplainable Joy that only God can give while I am giving completely of myself. It has saved me from burnout and many frustrations. It allows me to serve without exhaustion on those days that more is given than obtained and it guides me to other areas where *I* can secure some spiritual sustenance for myself.
I am so Thankful.
And now, if you are still here with me, I'd like to ask you to help me pray for this little church of 6 regular attending families (with 2 that come occasionally). A new season has come upon our little church. Our family has announced that we will be stepping aside in spring so that the church can find someone more aptly gifted and skilled to take this congregation on to the next level. This time is scary for us, as we likely will be losing our church home (at least for awhile, if not for good), but it is also scary for the congregation who is so small and is so unique.
While Hubby was the pastor he worked hard not only at the Sunday worship services but he also established a foundation, prompting the group to make steps that will allow the church to remain healthy even if and when the congregation is blessed with a sudden surge in growth. The ground work is laid out, the structures are set, the foundation is in place but now it is time for a new pastor who is passionate about taking a small core group and building it up into the next level to step on board.
The pastor they call will likely need to be bi-vocational and to make this switch in such an economy will be a tough task. I, personally, am very excited for the opportunity the group has to dream and desire. I am excited at the energy and growth that might come from this changing of the guard. Yet, as one who has been so active in this church, it is hard for me to sit back and know nothing.
So if you are a prayer warrior and if you are still reading could you please pray that 1-God will give clear signals to those on the Search Committee, 2-that God will send the perfect worker to our church to be it's next pastor, 3-that instead of feeling fear and skepticism all involved might feel the excitement and hope this change could bring and 4-that we all might have a very peaceful and easy transition.
I thank you kindly.
I am SO Greatful that God allowed our family to help start this Mennonite Church.
our church.
A little over 5 years ago our family and one other family decided we were tired of driving 75 miles one way to attend a church in our denomination (Mennonite Church USA). (If you want to learn more about who the Mennonites are click HERE.)
My husband had attended Seminary and had a Master's of Divinity.
Seminary was something to keep him occupied while I was working on some intense issues with a counselor. He's never really felt a *call* to pastoral ministry but is a servant and was willing to accept the job placed before him.
One day, at the church we were attending, the dad of the other family said, "You know, someone ought to start a Mennonite church in OUR town."
Hubby looked at him and said, "You're right. SOMEBODY should!"
That was the starting point. From there some rough outlines were scratched out, a meeting place was found, plans were made, and responsibilities were shared. On the first Sunday of November in 2006 we had our first service with our family, their family and a family that lived in the neighborhood of the church, a rented Synagogue.
I was 9 months pregnant that first week. I can't remember all that I did but I do remember we had a young child's Sunday School (led by the two originating fathers), an older Sunday School class that ranged 4th grade up through a freshman in high school (that I taught) and the rest of the adults met for adult Sunday school.
The second Sunday we were there with the same 3 families and ONE NEW ATTENDEE....... a 4 day old baby boy that we called Abram. Honestly, the only thing I remember from that second Sunday was that I was REALLY SORE (Abram was a rough delivery) and that we had not quite fully figured out nursing. I spent most of that morning underneath a large poncho shaped nursing cape trying to keep him latched on WHILE teaching Sunday school. I clearly remember having to continuously tuck my head under my cover and then back out again. I had the lesson planned quite well but had no available hands. So I remember asking the VERY HELPFUL kids to grab things, open books, read aloud, or hold something so I could read. I remember directing them using my words and by flinging my head in the direction I wanted them to go. LOL It was EXHAUSTING but a great memory.
Over the years we have gained families and lost families.
We are quite the motley crew of folks. We have a few who were raised Mennonite. We have a few who have spent their entire life in the Catholic church but liked aspects of our Mennonite faith and are learning the differences between these different faith traditions. We have some (like my family) who grew up in homes that were not churched, accepted a Christian faith in the non-denomination tradition and then became Mennonite as adults. We have a few who admit to being agnostic but strongly value the "stories and lessons of the church" for their children and we have some who fall somewhere in between.
I love having a church only 30 miles from home.
I love having children who are excited about attending church (especially now that they are 7, nearly 5 and nearly 3= they can sit in the pew without tap dancing or wresting--most the time!!!)
I will admit there have been moments where my attitude was dark, selfish, exhausted and even resentful toward God. YET, the great thing about God is that if you are truly seeking to serve HIM He doesn't let you get away with those attitudes for very long.
Along the way I have learned to serve the church as if I were serving Jesus. To have no expectations of return here on Earth. Face it we are too small and we are ALL doing about as much as we personally feel we can muster. Planting a church is hard work but a change in my Spirit along the way gave me a bit of tunnel vision, allowing me to focus my attention on serving the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength and all my mind and to love others better than myself. This change in Spirit (although it SOUNDS like it should have been a GIVEN when one is so involved in the start up of a ministry) has allowed me to experience the unexplainable Joy that only God can give while I am giving completely of myself. It has saved me from burnout and many frustrations. It allows me to serve without exhaustion on those days that more is given than obtained and it guides me to other areas where *I* can secure some spiritual sustenance for myself.
I am so Thankful.
And now, if you are still here with me, I'd like to ask you to help me pray for this little church of 6 regular attending families (with 2 that come occasionally). A new season has come upon our little church. Our family has announced that we will be stepping aside in spring so that the church can find someone more aptly gifted and skilled to take this congregation on to the next level. This time is scary for us, as we likely will be losing our church home (at least for awhile, if not for good), but it is also scary for the congregation who is so small and is so unique.
While Hubby was the pastor he worked hard not only at the Sunday worship services but he also established a foundation, prompting the group to make steps that will allow the church to remain healthy even if and when the congregation is blessed with a sudden surge in growth. The ground work is laid out, the structures are set, the foundation is in place but now it is time for a new pastor who is passionate about taking a small core group and building it up into the next level to step on board.
The pastor they call will likely need to be bi-vocational and to make this switch in such an economy will be a tough task. I, personally, am very excited for the opportunity the group has to dream and desire. I am excited at the energy and growth that might come from this changing of the guard. Yet, as one who has been so active in this church, it is hard for me to sit back and know nothing.
So if you are a prayer warrior and if you are still reading could you please pray that 1-God will give clear signals to those on the Search Committee, 2-that God will send the perfect worker to our church to be it's next pastor, 3-that instead of feeling fear and skepticism all involved might feel the excitement and hope this change could bring and 4-that we all might have a very peaceful and easy transition.
I thank you kindly.
I am SO Greatful that God allowed our family to help start this Mennonite Church.
If you would like to read more Gratitude Posts or jump on board click the button below.
1 comments:
I will be praying for your family and your church as it goes through a time of growth and transition ... a time where God will show His glory and remain at your sides, carrying you through the tough times. Sometimes starting a church from the ground up is strenuous and a struggle, but it's through these struggles that the Lord teaches us, refines us, and helps us to grow deeper in Him.
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