Edmonds Presbyterian Church
  • Home
  • About
  • Sermons
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Facility Rental
  • Education

Pastor Amy's Thoughts...

5/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Happy Easter!
Did you know that Easter has 50 days of celebration in our church calendar? That’s seven Sundays of rejoicing! It is a joy to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with you and ponder what resurrection looks like in my life, and the life of this congregation.
One of our church members, noticing that Mark and I will soon be empty-nesters, loaned me a book about women of faith who find a second calling once the kids are grown. The book is “Second Calling: Passion and Purpose for the Rest of Your Life” by Dale Hanson Bourke. In her book, she describes retiring several times from her high-powered career and wondering “what’s next?” This question led her deeper into prayer and Bible study as she began to take the time to listen for God’s will in her life, and to practice discernment.
Our congregation is also leaving an era of high-activity and high-energy, and entering into a time of discernment about what’s next, given our location, our people, our building, and our very talented staff. Consequently, I have been reading a number of books on congregational life-cycles, redevelopment, and renewal. One of these books even had resurrection in its title. Do you see the parallels between these two types of reading material? I do.
Bourke’s book uses the biblical witness of Naomi as a metaphor for faithfulness in a time of rapid change. In our context, I prefer to use resurrection as a guiding metaphor. Consider the experience of the disciples as they see for themselves Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Everything around them had changed. In the days after Jesus’ crucifixion, they were afraid of their future and hid behind locked doors. The risen Jesus met them there – in their fear – and gave them a mission and a purpose. Jesus’ mission was not an easy one. They knew that they would be persecuted and even killed for their words and their actions. Even so, they left the locked room and proclaimed the good news of Jesus near and far. Some stayed in Jerusalem, others traveled to the ends of the known world. Thanks to their witness, we too believe in Jesus as the Son of God. We are a portion of their legacy. Thanks to their faithfulness, and the faithfulness of all the generations between them and us, we can worship God in this place at this time. That was their legacy. What is ours?
On my desk is a notecard that reads, “A prophet is not called to be successful, but to be faithful.” It is a daily reminder to me that success is not measured in attendance, in finances, or even in praise. Success for the Christian is measured in faithfulness. It is my prayer that as the session and congregation discern what it will look like to “Praise God Together in 2025,” that we remember that our highest goal is to be faithful to our calling as Christ’s disciples.
In Christ, 

Pastor Amy

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    The Caller

    A monthly newsletter of upcoming events, celebrations, and news of the church community.

    Categories

    All
    Bible Study
    Deacons
    Education
    Events
    Fellowship
    Jobs
    Mens Fellowship
    Missions
    Music
    NW Coast Presbytery
    Pastor Thoughts
    Prayer
    Scouts
    Session Info (church Board)
    Stewardship
    Sunday School
    Womens Assn
    Worship
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from KarenBorterPhotography, peddhapati, Jamie In Bytown, Evim@ge