September 28, 2014

What a great “Back to Church” weekend we had last week! I was very impressed that many of you invited friends. We had about 15% first time visitors in our total attendance last weekend! Many of those went to the Ministry Fair after worship on Sunday and learned more about the 20 different program and service areas that were highlighted. Thank you elder Bill McCaslin and Outreach Committee for organizing this effort of “building our invitational muscles.” I believe one of the big pluses of purposefully inviting others to church is how many of you have told me that it was not “weird.” I am hearing that the videos on inviting others were fun and reduced any stigma of inviting someone to church. I am hearing that people were grateful for your invitation. They were honored that you counted them so meaningful in your life that you would share what is important and uplifting to you. I am also hearing that some who were not able to come last weekend do want to attend in the future. Way to go Church! Keep on inviting… it can make a huge difference in people’s lives! This week the Brown Bag Bible Study, which meets in the Library every Wednesday at noon for all interested, discussed the story of the Woman at the Well. In this account, Jesus approaches a woman and offers her “living water.” She is so excited that she tells her friends to “come and see.” She asks a question that they can answer for themselves, “Could he be the Messiah?” Jesus goes on to say that the “fields are ripe for the harvest,” that God’s Spirit is working with power in folks that just need an invitation to know Jesus more and a community to love and nurture them as followers of Jesus. We can do that! We can invite and we can help others grow in the Lord. And as we do, rest assured, we are but the laborers. It is God that causes the growth. Two final words: First our church is honored to host the Shepherd’s Center beginning this Thursday October 2. Registration forms are on the Information Station just outside the doors of the sanctuary. There are many very fine offerings for adult enrichment in a variety of subjects. I will be teaching a course, “Who is Jesus… to You? I would love for you to attend so we can grow together. Second, next Sunday is World Communion Sunday. We will celebrate our unity and solidarity with Christians around the world. Communion will be served with breads from various cultures to remind of us of our unity in diversity. There will be special music including leadership from a Hawaiian fellowship that has members in Indialantic. Invite a friend to come and worship on this special day. See you in Church, Tim