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.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Change at my age

Arena Congregational Church is scheduled to vote me in as pastor on November 11. It's a very small congregation, but a church that has been around since 1863. I'm looking forward to it.
Preaching for November:
4. Why pray?
11. Why give?
18. Hannah's Thanksgiving.
25. Samuel, Samuel

Somewhat surprising is that almost half the congregation is teens and 20's. I originally thought it would be much older. It gives me some hope that we can initiate some updating of traditional practices.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Back to the blog.

It's a long time since I put up a blog post, but maybe I will start again. I looked through some of the previous stuff, and thought it interesting.
I am preaching on The Prodigal Father at Arena Congregational Church this Sunday. I have all 4 Sundays in October. Next week I will preach on Abel's Sacrifice. It looks like I will be there for a while, and I am trying to put together my November sermons now.