WHERE TO?

One of my favorite people was headed off on vacation. He and his wife were newly married. She would ask, in the weeks leading up to the vacation, "Where are we going?" He would smile and say, "Let's figure it out."

She thought that was cute. She assumed he had a plan and was being mysterious. She told herself that he wanted to surprise her.

When they left the house that first day of vacation, they came to the first intersection and he said, "Which way? Left or right?" She looked surprised and said, "Right." They came to the next intersection and he asked the question again: "Which way? Left or right?" She was really puzzled. "Where are we going on vacation?" she asked. He shrugged and said, "I thought we'd just see where we end up." It was at that point in their young marriage the couple had a conversation about the importance of planning ahead and having a destination in mind.

Congregations, believe it or not, often have no destination in mind. They drift from season to season, guided in one direction by one pastor and then in another direction by his or her successor. They respond to suggestions from members, they react to developments in the community, they become the "church of what's happening now," but they have no clear sense of identity, purpose, mission and priorities.

Last week I mentioned that one of the "BIG FOUR" this year for us is the ministry outreach of The Open Door. The leaders of the church invite you to pray for TOD, support TOD as you speak with friends, and perhaps consider supporting that mission outreach with your presence.

The second of the 'BIG FOUR" this year is our Fruitful Congregations Journey (FCJ). (You'll see a letter below from the laity on the FCJ team asking you to be in prayer for this adventure of discovery.) The purpose of the FCJ experience is to help us gain a clearer understanding of who we are, our mission, and our priorities in this chapter of the life of the church.

Who are we?

What are we about (what is our mission)?

Where are we headed?

What will be the priorities in this next chapter of our life?

From time-to-time this year we will have FCJ presentations in worship, and you will be invited to participate in a sharing/learning session. I hope you will keep your eyes and ears open, I hope you will be in prayer, because our congregation will be facing some significant decisions about our future and how we do ministry. I don't want you to be surprised!

Our FCJ team is reading books that have been helpful in seeing where the church is and where God may be calling the church. For example, in the book "The Externally Focused Church" the authors talk about "common grace." They say "common grace" is where healthy, alive, growing, serving churches should be: that is the place where the circle of the needs/dreams of the community intersect with the circle of the calling of the church and resources of the church, and the circle of God's desire for the world. Where is God calling us to serve the community? How and where can we give ourselves in the name of Christ? The externally focused church is all about giving itself away in service for God. Is that FUMCB? How do we do that? Where are you engaged in that outreach/service?

Luke 9:51 says "Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." He knew who he was and he knew where he was headed.

Where are we and where are we headed? With the help of God working through FCJ, we are about to find out!

In Christ and for Christ,

Mark