Elder Updates

At the E.G. Zoning Board meeting, on February 26, 2008 our request for a parking variance for the Condo was approved. Work will begin the first week of April. Praise God!

The Elders are thankful for all those that participated in the recent discussions regarding the church’s 3-5 year plan. The Elders have begun to prioritize the comments and suggestions. We intend to begin to form teams during April and May to address the issues raised.

The Executive Pastor search: the Elders have had 4 phone interviews and 1 interview in person. We hope to finalize the selection before the annual meeting in June.

We continue to await the State sale of the property near the church.


We have not received the results of The Reveal survey as of the date of this entry. We will make the information available to the congregation as soon as we are able to do so.

We hope to have the Leadership Team Structure on the website in April which may help clarify the roles and functions of these teams.

Christ Church is part of the Pastors Council of the West Bay Christian Academy. As such Christ Church participates with other West Bay churches in;

o Advising and counseling the School Board on matters of:
i. Relationships to governmental bodies
ii. Fund raising methods
iii. Expansion ideas and plans
iv. Maintenance and improvements in Spiritual climate of the school
v. Other supportive functions to the school.

As always, the Elders are open to your suggestions and thoughts regarding the ministry here at Christ Church, please feel free to write or call us.

For The Elders
Robert

A Place at the Table

April 2008

As part of our Spiritual Formation program Spiritual Direction is mentioned as one of the components. Some may ask, what is Spiritual Direction?. The concept has change over the centuries and even today there are different styles and training. Yet, at the heart of the matter, Spiritual Direction is active listening.
Unlike psychological therapy where two people are relating to each other, the art of spiritual direction is a place where both the director and the directee are listening to the Trinity, as God is actively engaged in the directee’s life.
Using this passage from the Gospel of John, I would like to ask a few questions as an example of how, in Spiritual Direction, a dialogue could begin.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.

The Gospel of John
Chapter 6
Verses 32-48

Jesus says in this passage, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,”
Do you believe that God has drawn you to Himself?
Do you believe this invitation to come closer is a total act of His graciousness?
Do you believe that God, by His grace, is drawing you closer at this time?
In which ways? Focus on one. Describe to me God’s invitation to you. What is your inner response to this invitation?

This is the point at which the listening becomes more intense and the awareness of God’s desire for us becomes clearer. Our journey may move deeper into His Life in such an encounter.