April 2008
What a joy to have celebrated my
fifth Easter with you. I want to spread some thanks to many of you:
- A thank you to all of you who parked off campus so
visitors on Easter might find a parking place in our lot.
- A thank you to our Ambassador’s ministry…you did a
wonderful job accommodating the numbers of people who came through our
doors and made them feel very welcome, expressing true Christian
hospitality.
- A thank you to “Café Central”, where many Easter
guests found not only good coffee but good fellowship.
- A thank you to our Choir and Worship Teams…you truly
led us into the presence of the Lord. Thank you for the hours and hours of
rehearsals and practice that led up to our wonderful worship on Easter.
- A thank you to our wonderful staff and supportive
volunteers, who did the behind the scenes support work that produced the
bulletins, inserts, memorials, and flowers that we experienced on Easter.
Thank you, thank you, and thank
you!
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
The power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection
is available to us as we move more deeply into the first decade of the 21st
Century. That available power calls me to challenge myself and all of us in
three very specific ways.
First, I want us to grow in our “missional” focus
as a congregation. The word “missional” comes
from the early history of America
when “Missions” would be established in non-Christian, pre-Christian areas of
our country. These “Missions” were outposts from which the Christian message
went out, and to which pre-Christians and Christians would be invited to
worship. In many ways our churches are
“outposts” in a non-Christian, post-Christian society. I want to challenge us
to grow as a “missional” church expressing a stronger
outward focus – concerned about who is not yet here and inviting them to
experience the power and presence of the risen Christ. I want us to grow in our
“missional” focus as a church which expresses a
welcoming hospitality to those who do enter our doors, each of us having “missional” eyes that look around us as we enter, are seated
and depart from the sanctuary, looking to greet, welcome and sit next to those
guests who enter our doors.
Second, I want us to “grow in grace” as Central Presbyterian Church. Peter
put it this way, “But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the
glory, now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 3:18 (TEV) No congregation is pure grace, and
none is pure law. But each congregation will fit somewhere along the line. You
may have had an experience in a congregation where merely walking in the door
let you know you would be pounded by the law.
Each congregation paints a picture of the expectations of the Christian
life. The challenge of this heavier approach is that the culture of today is no
longer really Christian – they just don’t know the rules, expectations and
traditions. Many of these explorers of the faith will run from a sense of
condemnation and judgment when they look for churches. In our culture there are
so many people who deeply know brokenness and disappointment in life. They are
looking for a place where grace, forgiveness and hope abound. May Central
Presbyterian Church have an aroma of grace in all we do and offer.
Third, I want us to commit ourselves to growing in our faith and
understanding as disciples of Jesus Christ.
If we are to become more “missional” and more
“grace filled” we need to know (ginosko – intimate
and personal knowledge) more deeply and fully our God. to whom we are
calling our friends and family, and from Whom we receive this grace in which we
stand. Please avail yourself of the discipleship opportunities available to us
at CPC.
- Participate in a Sunday morning Christian Education
opportunity
- Join a LifeGroup, small
group, in which we can know others and be known and experience growth and
grace through Jesus Christ
- Look for and put into your schedule the “Discipleship
Weekend” that is coming this spring, where you can choose to grow into a
more fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ
- Take part in the prayer opportunities that support and
surround the life of CPC
In Christ’s Love and Service
Together,
Pastor Pat Hartsock
