January 14, 2015
A CONGREGATION AT FAULT?
Can a congregation have a personality? Hearing people speak about a congregation’s personality is not uncommon. Over the years I have heard members say things like, “Our church has a loving spirit,” “Our church has a peaceful spirit,” and “Our church has a caring spirit.” We could substitute the word “personality” for “spirit,” and then speak of congregational personality.
Somehow when asked about the kind of church we are a part of, we can speak to larger type descriptions that seem to capture the overall flavor or personality of our congregation. Now, how we are able to look at all the details of a congregation’s ministry and sum up its personality is a bit of a mystery to me. How do all the details of a congregation’s life add up to the sum of its personality? How do we know we have reached the right depiction?
One concern I have in describing a congregation’s personality is the fear of overgeneralization. For instance, over the years I have heard people say things like, “Preachers are always trying to change things,” or “Preachers always try to take control of congregations,” or “Preachers . . . (you fill in the blank).” To hear such depictions of preachers makes me wonder, “Are preachers a separate species from the rest of the human race?” Who are these “preachers”? For instance, was I once “just a member,” but then when I graduated from preaching school and seminary, I morphed from Homo Sapiens into the species Homo Preachiens? Am I no longer human? Must I now think “like a preacher”? What does that even mean, “Think like a preacher”?
Honestly, I just think like myself, Terry Christopher. If there are any other preachers out there that think like me (may God have mercy on their souls), then that is just another person whom I share something in common, but we did not clear our thoughts with Preacher Headquarters, asking, “Is it ok for preachers to think this way?” In an analogous way to lumping all individuals who choose to preach into one personality, so we may overgeneralize the personality of a congregation by saying, “This congregation always…(you fill in the blank).” Who speaks for the congregation? Who can sum up the personality of the West Main Church of Christ as a whole?
One person who sums up the personality of a congregation is Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, Jesus speaks the personality of the seven churches of Asia Minor (read Revelation 2-3). Jesus repeatedly says to these churches, “I know.” Read through chapters two and three and see how many times Jesus declares, “I know.” Now consider these questions, “Why would the Holy Spirit give this type of revelation to us? Why would the Holy Spirit want the universal Church of Christ throughout time to hear these words of Jesus speaking to the spirit or personality of these local churches?
Are we not to heed Jesus’ warning, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:11)? Jesus is calling us to generalize His depiction of “the churches” of Asia Minor to our contemporary church today. Some of those depictions we will enjoy and many of those depictions we will not enjoy. Jesus sees the good as well as the bad. We know what West Main does well, but are we willing to hear Jesus tell us what we do bad? No congregation that has existed as long as West Main is without fault. The only question now is, “Do we have the congregational personality of humility to admit we have fault?”
– Terry
Sacred Renewal . . . . This renewal is regarded as a sacred time. The purpose of this time in January is to step out of our ordinary daily routines and schedules to focus in a concentrated way on our relationship to God and one another.
There are several special congregational worship services and times of praise, confession, and repentance we desire all to experience. The elders’ desire is that everyone make an effort to be present this Sunday morning, January 18th. Our schedule is posted below:
Friday, January 16: Noon to Midnight - Prayer-Fast Vigil in the Auditorium; Open to All.
Saturday, January 17: Night of Confession - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 18: Sermon Topic: Can These Bones Live?
Saturday - Sunday, January 24-25: Twenty-four Hour Prayer-Fast Vigil (8:30 a.m. Saturday to 8:30 a.m. Sunday) at the building. Open to All. (Sign-up sheet will be available)
Sunday, January 25: Sermon Topic: Tomorrow’s Church Today; Fellowship Meal after Service.
Children’s Worship Service will begin this Sunday for children ages 4-9 years in the Fireside Room. Our teachers will be Amber Parker and Shawna Robich. Kids who are older than 9 years - high school are welcome to be helpers and assist with children’s worship service.
Sunday Evening Ladies Class will be starting a new series, Sacred Secrets, by Beth Moore on January 25th. Class begins at 6:00 p.m. in the East Room. If you would like to participate, please contact Toni Parker or Ranae Westeren as workbooks need to be ordered. Cost of the workbook is $10.00.
Prime Timers -- We will have a potluck luncheon at noon on Thursday, January 22, in the Fireside Room. We will focus on our Sacred Renewal and the topic of discussion will be: Watch These Old Bones Live! Please bring lots of your favorite potluck dish to share - see you there!
Stand for Life will be held Thursday, January 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. There are flyers on the information center in the courtyard if you would like more information.
2015 Church Directory -- Our proof copy of the directory is posted in the hallway by the East Room. Please review your listing and initial it if everything is correct or make the necessary corrections or additions. If your name is not listed and you would like to be included in our directory, please add your information on the sheet posted for new names.
*Also, if you would like to be added to or removed from the Prayer Chain, please check that listing also.
Coffee Servers are needed for 2015 . Coffee Servers are especially needed for February. Please sign up on the list posted by the stairs. Thank you for all of your help.
Prayer Requests . . . . Anna Lake requests prayers for the family of Terrie Becker whose uncle, Dwight Cooper, is in the end stages of throat cancer - please pray that he doesn’t suffer and goes peacefully...For the family of Tim, who is in the hospital with blood clots around his heart - pray for healing...David Mayes asks prayers for his friends, Cora, Layla, and Mikey...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
Friday, January 16: Noon to Midnight - Prayer-Fast Vigil in the Aud.; Open to All
January 17: Night of Confession - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
January 18: Sermon Topic: Can These Bones Live?
January 22: Prime Timers Potluck Luncheon; FSR; at noon
January 24-25: Twenty-four Hour Prayer-Fast Vigil
(8:30 a.m. Saturday to 8:30 a.m. Sunday) at the building. Open to All
January 25: Sermon Topic: Tomorrow’s Church Today; Fellowship Meal after Service
