From the Pastor – January 2007
January first is the time when most of us make New Year’s resolutions. I am no exception. Mine is to take better care of myself in the new year. If you’ve seen me over the last few years, you know that I haven’t always done a good job of it. Fortunately, I am blessed by being very healthy, but I know that can’t continue if I don’t do something to make sure it continues. As my doctor said, the solution is two fold: eat less and exercise more.
Back in October, we completed our Natural Church Development survey. The results showed that we scored lowest on “Passionate Spirituality.” This finding did not surprise our lay leader, Sheila McCleery, who, in a post survey conversation with me described our situation as “spiritual malaise.”
Fortunately, just as the solution to my weight is clear, so too, it seems to me, is the solution to our “malaise.” If we are going to regain our “passionate spirituality,” there are resources available.
On the 10th, our midweek study will explore “Beginnings: The Spiritual life,” a ten week video based study of Christian spirituality. During our time together, we will become acquainted with spiritual “exercises” practices such as centering, breath prayer, “Lectio Divina,” and many more.
“Beginnings: The Spiritual life” is but one facet of our reclaiming our spiritual passion. Your Church Council/Health team has been working for the past couple of months to come up with ways that together we can grow our spiritual lives.
However, like any other endeavor, success will depend upon participation. Just as I cannot lose weight by watching an exercise video and reading about weight loss, neither can we re-claim our spiritual passion by simply sitting by, waiting for our Church Council/health team to come up with “solutions.” We must be part of the solution, committing ourselves to healthy, passionate spirituality. Only then can we overcome our lethargy and malaise.
Fortunately, there are signs of hope. Not only do we have a steady core of people committed to our Wednesday night study, we also have some adults who have dared to venture into what for years was seen as an area just for kids, and have become part of an adult Sunday School class.
The Holy Spirit is moving in our midst, calling us back to spirituality. I invite you to be a part of this exciting journey.
Pastor Tony
