Pastor’s Garage October 20th, 2022

Hello everyone! The forecast says that today is supposed to be a decent
day, so before snow flies be sure to get out there and enjoy the beautiful
weather… at least what is left of it.

This weekend we’ll be hosting a team from Eston College for Sunday morning.
They will be leading worship, sharing testimonies as well as preaching. I
am really looking forward to it! Their leader was a little hesitant about
their team leading everything because members of their team are fairly
young and inexperienced. I shared that we would be totally ok with things
not being too polished and we’d be happy extending grace to them as they
stretch out their wings. I don’t want our church to be all about polish
anyway. I would hope that we are a place where anyone can feel comfortable
stepping into their giftings. In fact, that really resonates with what I
wanted to share with you in the email this week.

A few weeks ago I shared about four things I want our church to be known
for here in Grenfell on what I called our “Vision Sunday.” The four things
are that we would be:

– people of the word
– people of prayer
– people who gather
– people who give and serve

As I said, we’ll be preaching lots about these things and sharing about
them for a while. The last one mentions service. As I challenged us that
day, I would like each of us to find a way to serve in this body at least
once a month. For some, you’ve already got this covered. For others, you
perhaps haven’t found your sweet-spot. For some, maybe you’ve been serving
in one area, but you feel like maybe there’s another area where you might
feel gifted. There’s lots of areas where a person could serve. If you feel
compelled about an area let me know. If you need some help dreaming or
discovering, I would love to have a discussion. I just want to open the
door for you! I’d like to encourage everyone to spend some time praying and
thinking on how they perhaps would like to serve. Listen to what it says in
Romans:

Romans 12:4-8
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members
do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one
body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts,
according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,
then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then
serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give
encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do
it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We don’t all have the same function and we all have different gifts! The
work of the church is actually not meant to be wrapped up in the pastors
and leadership team. It’s meant to be done by a large body all doing the
part they were gifted for. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed as a pastor because
I feel like I don’t do enough and then I start to try to do more… and
then I start to burn out- but that’s dysfunctional leadership because I
can’t do it all, and I was never meant to do it all. I also know that
sometimes I default to just doing things myself because it can be easier at
times to just do it, rather than try to inspire or encourage someone else
to do it, but that’s not healthy either. Or, because all of us are a bit
narcissistic (especially pastors), I want to do it because I enjoy getting
noticed.

Well, I am sorry for this kind of leadership, because in doing so, I have
robbed some of you of the challenge and the opportunity to serve and lead
in this church and I’ve let some of you off the hook and helped to
perpetuate an unhealthy way of doing church. So, I am asking you to step
up. I am asking you in this season to be bold and to forge ahead and to ask
God how you could serve this body. The church is God’s plan for bringing
his message and blessing to the world. There isn’t a back-up plan or some
other path. This is it and it needs you! You are part of this body! And if
it’s a bit unpolished because some of us are a bit rusty or need
practice… well, so be it!

In saying all that, one area that is in need of immediate help is youth.
I’m planning on our first gathering being next Friday evening and really
need a few faithful volunteers. Would you consider serving in this way?

Just a reminder that our marriage workshop is accepting registrations. You
can call the office, sign-up on a Sunday morning or contact Janelle Oshowy.
Her contact info and more info is on the attached poster. It’s only $40 for
a one day investment in your marriage!

Blessings on your week!

Pastor Dave