A Setting for You!

We are excited about the response to our first Blog. You heard about our first post in the January 6th Enews. Since then, over 70 people have “joined us at the table!” Please let us know what you think! Email the elders with your suggestions and thoughts about the Blog!

Elder Minutes – Blog Edition
Highlights from Elder Meetings of January 4 and 11

1. Communion. We began the New Year by celebrating communion together. It was a great blessing to be served by our brothers in Christ and former active elders Ken Bell and Greg Hudson. We prayed for the ill and needy in our church family, and reported on our contacts with several folks who needed some follow-up.

2. “Next Steps” Updates. The Next Steps Task Force is actively pursuing leads for relocating our office staff off-site. This is an urgent priority, since we cannot begin with converting current office space into Children’s Ministry space until that is accomplished.

3. Christ Church @ Cole Video Venue. A letter to go out to the congregation describing this new step was approved. We are praying for a “detail” person to oversee and lead in bringing this step to reality. Please contact Marty if you sense God’s leading on this.

4. Meeting with Rob Hall. Rob Hall, Associate Director of Technical and Legal Services for the Evangelical Covenant’s Church Growth and Evangelism ministry, met with us as part of his two-day visit to our church to advise us on expansion options. We are looking forward to his report.

5. Vision Trip. Along with several other Evangelical Covenant (EC) churches facing exciting challenges while they grow, Lyle, Robert and Bill will participate in a January 19 - 21 trip sponsored by the EC. They will visit LifeChurch (www.lifechurch.tv) in Oklahoma and Bayside Covenant inCalifornia (www.baysideonline.com). LifeChurch uses multi-site, "video venues" to accommodate and enhance the growth of their ministry in Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona. Bayside is a "family" of four churches in the Sacramento area that also uses a unique multi-site approach to managing growth. We are excited to explore these creative methods of church growth! Please join us in prayer!

6. Director of Small Group Ministry. Since the fall of last year Linda Anderson has served in this role on an interim basis. We approved the recommendation to appoint Linda to this position on an ongoing basis (no longer “Interim”).

7. Winter Retreat and Expansion Options. We confirmed the time and place of our Elder Winter Retreat: February 10-11th at St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, MA. The purpose of this retreat is to seek God’s direction for the longer-term expansion of Christ Church.

8. Church Brochure. We are in the process of designing a church brochure that is attractive, gives basic information about our church, and has room for inserts about particular ministries. Such a brochure will be especially helpful for new folks who are curious about or drawn to our church.

9. Staff Changes. We are expecting some changes in the near future in our office staff, and are working with Marty in considering some new roles, and individuals who might serve in those roles. The search for a Director of Worship Arts is ongoing.

10. Spiritual Formation Planning. As Elders, we sense a need to provide more support for our church folks in the area of “spiritual formation.” This would include, but go beyond Adult Education. Lyle, Marty and Don will meet soon to begin a process of planning. We are open to including in the conversation others who are gifted in and have a heart for this.

Important Request: Do you know anyone who is unable to take part in communion? This may be a result of illness, hospitalization, transportation issues, or age. Whatever the reason, the elders desire to minister to those who wish to partake in this important sacrament. Please email us or call the church office.

Faithfully, in Christ

The Christ Church Elders

Reflections with Robert Messore

As we continue to develop our look at the subject of prayer, we note from the very beginning that to pray is to struggle. Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians that we are in a spiritual struggle – against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Years ago, I was active in the martial arts. When people had gained a certain level of proficiency, they had to exhibit their skill under very physically and emotionally stressful circumstances. A person passed the test, if at the end of the session they stood up in the position they had when the test began. It didn’t matter how many mistakes one made as long as they assumed a standing position ready to continue when the test was completed.

I am reminded of the lesson I learned in karate when I read Paul's encouragement from Ephesians 6: “...after you have done everything, stand." It seems to me that for those of us who desire to develop a life of prayer, our attitude to stand before God each day ready to continue our development is critical.

What determines whether we stand ready to pray? Is it how much or little we prayed the day before? How sinful or spiritual we were the day before? Or whether we feel spiritually ready to pray? Standing ready to pray grows and becomes a desire, a passion to learn more ways to speak with the One we love – and to be near to Him. Responding to life from this deep place is our desire; where we engage the struggle to pray each day no matter what other thoughts or feelings we may have.

Would you like a personal prayer partner?
Would you like someone to encourage you along the way of prayer?
Would you like to learn how to be a prayer partner?

If you have any questions regarding your personal prayer time, call the church office and leave me your name and a way to contact you. You can also email me directly.

For the Elders,

Robert Messore