October is for discernment!  Discernment, according to Webster, is "the ability to see and understand people, things, or situations clearly and intelligently."  In this month we're seeking understanding in our finances, our congregation and in our directions.

In the "Enough" series we are seeking clarity about our God given resources and how best to use them.  We have begun thinking, studying and praying together about how to best serve God with what God has first given us.  This includes our financial commitments as well as our prayers, presence, service & witness.

For our Oct. 21st Charge Conference we're reflecting on what God has been doing among and through us in the past year and where God is leading in the year to come.  This involves reviewing the ABC's (Attendance, Buildings, Cash) but more importantly seeking out "God Moments," where we're seeing God at work, in our life together.

Finally, our Church Council has convened a Vision Team to think and pray together about 3 goal directions and offer insight.  This team has people from each service, all ages and they aren't already on Council.  When you read this they hope to have some preliminary recommendations for our Council as we set 2016 goals, helping us see where God is leading.

Possibly there is one more area... your own life.  Where are you seeking clarity?  Seeking God?  Seeking growth?  Seeking direction?  How can I hold you in prayer?  Share in a conversation?  Connect you with a Koinonia group to make the journey with you? 

God is always ready to help us discern and celebrate the holy.  Jesus makes the way for this to happen and the Spirit walks with us all.  May this be a time of great joy and discovery reflecting the love of Christ in your life. 

10,000 Joys Following Jesus, Dave

I wish… “the church was full like it used to be,”  “there weren’t sports on Sunday,” “church people actually loved like Jesus,”  “church could be more flexible,”  “church spent more time doing & helping in the community and less time in meetings.”  I wish… ___________.

We each have wishes.  Each wish may or may not be possible, reasonable or shared with others.  What our wishes have in common is Connect, Grow and Serve.

We connect to Jesus and one another so that lives are transformed.  When that happens people are helped… people get together… people are gracious and flexible.  Connecting is how God made us to be.

We grow more deeply in the knowledge and love of Christ so that our lives continue to be changed and show God’s love at work.  Followers of Jesus have been gathering together in small groups to help one another grow since Jesus gathered the disciples.  It’s still what vital churches are doing.

We serve responding to God’s great love for us.  Serving uses our gifts and puts us beyond the walls of the church building.  Jesus Christ came as a servant and invites us to follow his lead.  Further, when we serve, we connect with others.  Can you see the cycle?

Our leaders are working on these 3 areas as they consider our goals into 2016.  They are listening and bringing others together to help in the process.  If you and I want to achieve what we wish for, then we will need to connect people to God by telling the stories of God's transformation in our live;  then we can  invite others to “come and see.”  To grow more deeply and together as the body of Christ takes our commitment to participating in small groups.  Finally, we need to demonstrate our changed lives serving others.

It’s not easy, but it is simple.  Our mission is Leading People to the One Whose Touch Makes Us Whole, as we Connect, Grow & Serve.  If we don’t do those three things then all we’ll have is wishful thinking.

     10,000 Joys Following Jesus, Dave