What does membership mean to you?

Dear Friends –

The Book of Order (the Presbyterian Church’s constitution) has this to say about The Ministry of Members (G-1.0304).

            “Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ is a joy and a privilege. It is also a commitment to participate in Christ’s mission. A faithful member bears witness to God’s love and grace and promises to be involved responsibly in the ministry of Christ’s Church. Such involvements includes:

Ø  Proclaiming the good news in word and deed,

Ø  Taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation,

Ø  Lifting one another up in prayer, mutual concern, and active support,

Ø  Studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life,

Ø  Supporting the ministry of the church through the giving on money, time, and talents,

Ø  Demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the service to others,

Ø  Living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political, cultural, and social relationships of life, working in the world for peace, justice, freedom, and human fulfillment,

Ø  Participating in the governing responsibilities of the church, and

Ø  Reviewing and evaluating regularly the integrity of one’s membership, and considering ways in which one’s participation in the worship and service of the church may be increased and made more meaningful.”

So….how are you doing? For me, it is important to remember the two sides of membership – it is both a joy and a privilege. It is a joy to serve God when we are able to use our gifts in service to others. It is a privilege to take seriously our commitment to working together to build up the church of Jesus Chirst.

What does membership mean to you? How might you better use your gifts in service to God? What can we do better to help one another become the church God wants us to be? I’d love to hear from you!

Be blessed-

Pastor John

Thank you for 150 years.

Psalm 150

in honor of 150 years 

of being 

Community Presbyterian Church

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

To this wonderful Psalm of praise, I would add: “Praise God with the bell; praise him with the resounding noise of the big bell.”

As I reflect on Community Presbyterian Church’s 150^th Anniversary Celebration, I am grateful. I am grateful for the call to serve in such a time and place. It has been truly humbling to be pastor of Community Presbyterian Church during this wonderful and joyous celebration.

There are many, many people who need to be thanked for their contribution to the celebration. Thank you to Tom and Diane Ellringer who hosted a church social. Your farm was the perfect place to gather for bean bags and kick ball; for hayrides and bonfires; for food, fellowship and s’mores. Thank you for your hospitality.

     Thank you to Bonnie Bosma for designing and dedicating a new quilt for the sanctuary. Your skill is unmatched and your creativity adds to the beauty of our sacred space.

     Thank you to the members of the Praise Band – Steve Kreofsky, Alan Dewey, Joan Lee, Erica Huag-Gonzalez, Belinda Strain, Meg Curtiss, Peggy Veith and Betsy Dewey for leading us in a Sunday of new songs (and for Bruce Firzlaff for running the sound system!).

     Thank you to Janice Jurgenson, Ron Manzow, and Donna Christison for planning and organizing our Community Concert. Thank you to our musicians Ron Manzow, Nancy Hollister, Holly Reeve, the Men’s Choir, Meg Curtiss, Steve Kreofsky for sharing your music with us. Thank you to Bruce Firzlaff for your help with the sound system. A special thanks to our new choir director Peggy Veith and all the members of the adult choir for singing and sharing your gifts. Thank you to Dianne Lutzi for serving the ice cream after the concert.

     Thank you to Pastors Paul Moore and Chaz Ruark for helping lead worship on the day we dedicated the bell and remembered our great history. Thank you to Alan Dewey for videotaping the events of the day. Thank you to Ron Manzow for writing and directing our cemetery walk – and to the following people who memorized ghost stories: Larry Veith, John Zabel, Dianne Lutzi, Meg Curtiss, Walt Christison, and Kent Harrington.

     Thank you to the 150^th Anniversary Task Force, for your wisdom and enthusiasm as we met for over a year to plan for this special event: Ron Manzow, Dianne Lutzi, Donna Christison, Ardie and Janice Jurgenson, Wally and Gladys Richardson, Joan Lee, and Dennis and Bonnie Bosma.

     An extra big thanks to Stephanie Kreofsky who served as the chairperson of the 150^th Anniversary Task Force. Thank you for your gentle guidance which kept us on track and for you wise leadership in moving us forward.

     Thank you to Steve Kreofsky, for taking the idea of a new sign and a bell platform for our historic bell and designing and building a beautiful structure. Thank you for donating your time and laboring in love so that our bell could ring once again.

     And finally, thank you, members and friends of Community Presbyterian Church for your tremendous support of our 150^th Anniversary plans. You generous supported our fundraising efforts with your time and your resources. Your faithfulness gives me hope in what God is continuing to do through the witness and ministry of Community Presbyterian Church. May the sound of our bell renew your spirit and deepen your faith in Jesus Christ.

     When I think about 150 years of ministry, I realize that I have been the pastor of Community Presbyterian Church for less than 2% of her history (I’ve been here since 2011 – a little more than 2 years). It is humbling to stand on the shoulders of those saints of God who have gone before me. But upon those shoulders I can see a bit better. Grounded in the history of who we are, this vision enables me to see a future where God continues to bless the people of Community Presbyterian Church. Let us live together into that glorious future – a future God has prepared for us; a future that God is leading us towards.

     Praise God for the sound of our historic bell, ringing once again. May it call all of us into a deeper faith and a more meaningful worship as a community of faith; as Community Presbyterian Church.

Glory to God –

Pastor John

Gratitude and Glory!!!

October, 2013     

Dear Friends –

Thank you. Community Presbyterian Church is an exciting faith community. Thank you for all that you do to make the witness at CPC a powerful message of hope, sharing our faith in Jesus Christ.

We are celebrating our 150th Anniversary at Community Presbyterian Church, beginning on October 6th. Our theme for our 8 day celebration is: “Remember ~ Rejoice ~ Rededicate.” I do hope that you will take advantage of all of these wonderful events to connect with your church community and celebrate this historic event. To God be the glory!

Please note that this Sunday, October 6^th, we will gather on the front lawn of the church at 9:40 am (worship begins at 10:00) to prayerfully dedicate our historic bell and hear it ring out once again. It is an exciting day for Community Presbyterian Church and I look forward to seeing everyone gather outside and hear the glorious sounds of our bell ring once again.

Our goal to raise $15,000 for the bell platform began earlier this year. I am pleased to report that because of the generosity of many, we have not only reached, but exceeded our goal. To date, we have received over $16,000 for the bell platform! On behalf of the 150^th Anniversary Task Force, thank you so much for all you gave.

These are exciting times for Community Presbyterian Church. I can only imagine what God will do with us and through us in the next 150 years.

Sincerely,

Pastor John

Attitude

Today feels like a new day for me.
It's my first day back in the office (after a brief vacation with a long drive to and from Nebraska to see a whole bunch of family).
It's the first day of school - 3rd grade, 1st grade, and even preschool.
It feels like fall (after 10 days of weather in the 90s).
I have a renewed energy today - I'm excited about the things on my calendar and my "to-do" list.

I read a chapter called "Attitude" today from John Maxwell's book "Developing the Leader Within You." Here are a couple of quotes I want to keep track of...the first from Charles Swindoll:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, or a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. Nor can we change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We also cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you--we are in charge of our attitudes." (Charles Swindoll, Improving Your Serve)

And...this is reportedly a plaque on the office of Arnold Palmer:

"If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you'd like to win but think you can't, it's almost certain you won't.
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can."

On a bumper sticker: "Misery is an choice."

I'm not sure I think that attitude is EVERYTHING but I do think that my attitude is a choice and that I am responsible for my attitude. Today I am choosing to see God's hand at work in the work I am called to do. Today I am choosing to believe that good and faithful things are happening in and around me. Today I am choosing to seek God in all that I do. Today I am choosing a joyful and grateful attitude.

A Summer of Prayer

A Summer of Prayer

“When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-15

Dear Friends –

I want to invite you to participate in something that is dear to my heart – a season of prayer. I want to encourage you to engage in a summer of prayer—not only in your personal life—but in the life of Community Presbyterian Church.

As you are surely aware, Community Presbyterian Church is celebrating her 150^th Anniversary in October of this year. We have set aside the week of Sunday, October 6^th to Sunday, October 13^th as our time of celebration and we are planning to “Remember ~ Rejoice ~ Renew” throughout the week.

I have greatly enjoyed the planning process, in large part, because of the conversations I have heard: conversations about our rich history and tradition, stories about saints who have gone before, tales about the challenges faced and adversity endured. There is no doubt in my mind that God has been present throughout our 150 year history. In a very real sense the stories about who we have been are God’s stories. Learning how God has been at work in the lives of the people who have claimed Community Presbyterian Church as their faith community and spiritual home gives me great hope for the future – our future together that God has planned.

Which brings me back to my desire to pray together as a community of faith. I believe that even as we celebrate our history and remember our stories, we are being called into an exciting and hopeful future. As we celebrate our 150^th Anniversary, I believe that now is also the time to begin to imagine together the next 150 years. How might we together discover God’s plan, God’s vision, God’s purpose for us at Community Presbyterian Church?

I believe that the beginning of the answer to that question is prayer. We will begin to discover God’s plan for us by gathering together to pray, to care for one another, and to let God’s Holy Spirit shape our hearts together.

Again, I want to invite you to participate in a summer of prayer. Beginning on Sunday, June 16^th, I will lead a time of prayer on Sunday mornings before worship. We will meet each Sunday (for 6 weeks) from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. to pray together.

I do hope you will join me. I trust that we will be amazed at what God is planning to do through us in prayer.

Sincerely,

Pastor John

A heart of flesh

(Ezekiel 11:17 - "Thus says the Lord God:"

"I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart flesh, so that they may follow..." (Ezekiel 11:19-20a)

The Pale Blue Dust Mote

Dear Friends,

Yesterday (May 5th), I preached a sermon based on John 14:23-29. Referred to as the farewell discourse, Jesus is preparing his disciples for a time in the near future when he will no longer be with them. Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with them as they continue to work on being an authentic community.
     I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time thinking about authentic community. I desire to be a part of a community that is real, that cares for one another, without judgment or shame, because we all know that we are in this thing - this messy, complicated thing called life - together.
     I think the church often falls well short of this kind of authentic community, but I deeply believe that the church has the potential to be an authentic community. And I am deeply committed to being authentic and working towards an authentic community.
     In his speech to his disciples, Jesus commands them that they love one another. This is the basis for the genuine community that I desire. To love one another as Christ loves us.

This is no easy task. What gets in the way?

There are many answers to this - namely that people are hard to love and that we often get caught up into thinking that it (all of it!) is about us.

To give some perspective on why I think love is of the utmost importance, I'd like to share a quote from Carl Sagan. In 1990, the spacecraft Voyager I took a picture of the planet earth from the edge of our solar system. The iconic picture shows the vastness of the cosmos. The planet Earth shows up as a pale, blue dot. Here is how Carl Sagan reflected on this image in his book "Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space."

"Look again at the dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you've ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tine world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

To that, I would add, the pale blue dot reminds us all of the importance to love and to love well.

Amen and amen.