THE MESSENGER

 

Pastoral Reflections

by Pastor Becky Hebert

Over five years ago, St. John’s Chapel UCC began the search for a new minister.  In the early stages of that process, you were guided in taking a look at where you wanted to go as a congregation. The uppermost item on your list was growth. I heard you saying loud and clear that you wanted a minister who would help you grow as a congregation.

Of course, there are many types of growth: numerical growth, spiritual growth and vitality growth, to name a few. The three noted work in association with each other. We will not grow numerically if we are not a revitalizing and spiritually-growing congregation. We have to be a congregation committed to offering ministry with purpose for the twenty-first century.

I hope you hear the “we” in this. The work of revitalizing, of assisting God in breathing life into dry bones is hard work, and it will take everyone to accomplish it. I can only help you accomplish this. Each of you must be committed to working in partnership with me in order to become a growing congregation.

The programming put in place since my arrival has evolved from our dreaming and visioning together ministries that will makes us vital. The Spiritual Development program we are putting together is such a ministry. Anyone who has taken part in spiritual development will tell you that it is a life changing experience.

We have a world out there that hungers for a spiritual life. Yet, they have left the church in droves because they were not being fed by the church. Some have gone the way of “new age” religion. Some find this need addressed by more charismatic denominations. This I think is one of the reasons main line denominations have declined so rapidly.

With each new spiritual development group here at St. John’s Chapel, I have

marveled with a common theme spoken.  “No one ever told me that I could have this kind of a relationship with God.” I think we would all say that a relationship with God is the most important relationship we can have. I would venture to say that we would agree this is the main reason we go to church. Yet, it seems we think that developing that relationship should take no more than one hour a week.. We know that anything really worth having does not work that way, but we wish for it anyway.

If we truly want to be a growing church, revitalization or spiritual development must begin with the members and leaders of our congregation. We cannot share the good news that we can have as close a relationship with God as the one Jesus enjoyed, until we have experienced that reality.

As Denise Mason puts it, “Most people who are a part of a congregation that finds itself in need of redevelopment or revitalization may love Jesus Christ but are not in love with Jesus. … When we get excited again about our relationship with God, then we will be equipped to go forth sharing the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.”

May we some day meet on a labyrinth walk into the sacred realm of the holy —and walk out ready to go forth into a future of growth. This is my dream for YOU—HELP Me accomplish it!

Blessings and Love, Pastor Becky