On the Sidelines?

We are in a very exciting time of the year. Like many of you, I’ve watched several games on the grid iron. I’m often struck by the players who are on the sidelines, but want to get into the game. The desire is evident: they want to get into the game to try to make a difference. But the rules of the game won’t let them play, yet. The church, however, doesn’t have the same rules. There are opportunities for all of us to get into the game!

    

We are just a few weeks away from our culmination of the Treasures of the Transformed Life. I appreciate the way you’ve engaged in the discussion about our promise of upholding the church with our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service and Witness. There are some great ways before us that we can continue to live out these promises. Among several others, I offer these up to you to help you get off the sidelines and into the game.

We will roll up our sleeves for another “Love Fairhope” workday on October 15. We will partner with several area churches to serve the people of our community. I will lead an “Invitation to the Old Testament” beginning October 19. This is a wonderful Bible Study that helps us see our roots in the books of the Old Testament.   We begin a new opportunity for service in Costa Rica the week of October 23. We have partnered with Ray and Lidia Zirkel for several years. This fall we expand that partnership. Please support the team with your prayers and other support: before, during, and after our trip.

No matter what your role in these opportunities, I urge you to not remain on the sidelines this fall. There are several ways for you to make a difference in the lives of others. Instead of rules that only allow 11 players in the game at a time, the Church needs EVERYONE in the game. When we all participate, amazing things happen. We don’t do this for our sake, but for the sake of Christ Himself and to fulfill our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. At Fairhope UMC, we do that when we Reach~Equip~Serve. So come, get into the game!

Worship-Part 3

Worship is also about REST.  Let’s face it, we have trouble resting. Our culture doesn’t always know how to rest.  Sometimes we even look down upon those who rest as lazy or unproductive.  To be the child of God that He has called us to be, we need to rest.  We must take a deep breath: spiritually, emotionally, physically.

Worship is a time of REST.  We REST in the arms of the God who loves us and desires that we too love Him.  He wants us to cast our cares upon Him and take rest from the burdens that the world, others, or even ourselves have placed upon us.

In our worship we can sometimes get so caught up in singing about God or reading about God or hearing about God that we forget that worship is an experience OF God.  We experience God’s love so that we too might be changed more into the likeness of Him.   Have you ever considered how you might move from all those things about God and move into a restful experience of God?

The REST in our worship is also a preparation to be a part of the ongoing work of the Kingdom of God outside the walls of our worship spaces.  As United Methodists, we affirm the priesthood of all believers and we can all minister to one another through Word, action, and deed.  The things that happen to use in worship--Power, the Joy, The Rest--are not intended to stay there.  They are not to stay in the worship space or in the time frame of our worship.

Our worship truly takes on a whole new meaning when we live our that which we say and do in worship.  We affirm that God is all powerful, that He forgive sins, that the saints are to commune together, and that our body will live on (among other things).  Do our actions reflect forgive, community, power, and a view of eternity in all that we do?

Wherever you worship this week, do so in POWER, JOY, and REST.  Do it not for your sake, but for the sake of the LORD.  You’ll be amazed at what happens--to you and to those around you.