Tuesday, November 27, 2018

This picture was taken on my first Sunday preaching at Arena Congregational Church.
December topics:
Dec. 2 Birth of a Radical (John the Baptist)
Dec. 9 Comfort my People
Dec. 16 Call his name Jesus
Dec. 23 Special service with 9 lessons and carols
Dec. 30 Read the Bible.

Monday, November 19, 2018

It's official now

After a delay caused by a lack of quorum, the Arena Congregational Church voted me in as pastor yesterday, November 18. I am grateful to be able to serve God in the church.
It came as a surprise almost 3 months ago, and I have now been preaching there for 7 weeks. I said that I wanted to help the people develop their spiritual gifts and ministries. I said I came without an agenda, and that we would seek God together for direction.
I see my role as helping to articulate that direction, and then to help to mobilize obedience to the direction.
I also said I am dispensable. It would be wonderful if God would send someone along.
In general, people claim that Arena is a difficult field to work in. I don't have great ambitions, but I do expect God to bless us with an increase in sensitivity to the Spirit and also in number.