A Message from Pastor Scarlett
This morning, you may have noticed an addition to our worship service: lay liturgists. These amazing people will assist in leading worship through liturgy and scripture reading. I am grateful that they are sharing their gifts in this way. As we hear scripture in various voices, we are reminded that God calls all people to share His Word in the world.
In the weeks to come, we will also have new greeters. These folks are often the first contact that people have with our church, and we thank them for sharing their gifts of hospitality and joy in the Lord in this way. On July 12 at 6:30 PM new and “seasoned” greeters are invited to come together to organize for the year and just talk about how we can be the best possible greeters.
Recently, the Barna Group conducted a survey of “spiritual seekers” looking for the top motivators for choosing a church. The top 4 are:
Knowing all will be welcomed (32%)
Making friends and nurturing friendships (29%)
Support during difficult times (28%)
Learning more about God (27%)
Less motivating were opportunities for Bible study, volunteer opportunities, discussion of issues and topics and the provision of childcare.
The people surveyed were between 25 and 49 and considered themselves to be spiritual and seeking meaning in their lives but not affiliated with any church. Some of this does not agree with what we learned in seminary where we were told that the availability of childcare could make or break a church. It’s still important, but not in the same way to these folks as to others.
Such studies help us all to remember that everyone who comes is not looking for the same thing, or coming from the same set of life experiences. Nevertheless, they come seeking God. Thank you for doing your part to make people welcome.
This week, our nation will celebrate July 4, our Independence Day. I hope you and your family and friends enjoy a safe and happy holiday. Our church office will be closed July 4.
For now, I will close with a prayer composed by the Rev. Peter Marshall, D.D., the chaplain of the US Senate from 1947 – 1949. On Thursday, July 3, 1947, Rev. Marshall led the Senate in praying:
God of our Fathers, whose Almighty hand hath made and preserved our Nation, grant that our people may understand what it is they celebrate tomorrow.
May they remember how bitterly our freedom was won, the down payment that was made for it, the installations that have been made since this Republic was born, and the price that must be paid for our liberty.
May freedom be seen, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to please to do what is right.
May it be ever understood that our liberty is under God and can be found nowhere else.
May our faith be something that is not merely stamped upon our coins, but expressed in our lives.
Let us, as a nation, not be afraid of standing alone for the rights of men, since we were born that way, as the only nation on earth that came into being “for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.”
We know that we shall be true to the Pilgrim dream when we are true to the God they worshipped.
To the extent that America honors Thee, wilt Thou bless America, and keep her true as Thou hast kept her free, and make her good as Thou hast made her rich. Amen.
Faithfully,
Pastor Scarlett