It is exciting to move into a renovated church. Our building, constructed in 1965, has given us more than forty years of excellent use. But, as it goes with even the best of structures, our sanctuary showed its age with bubbling carpet, peeling paint and pews, dim lighting, and other concerns. So now we have a “church makeover” so to speak.
New flooring, seating, choir risers, interior colors, stained glass, chancel area, new altar, ambo (pulpit), upgraded sound, video, and lighting.
We are truly blessed to experience a renewed place of worship. We look forward to exploring the ways these things relate to our worship and fellowship in the Lord.
As with any “makeover” we have the opportunity to take a fresh look at who we are as God’s people in this place. The church building is just a “wrapper” so to speak. And the wrapper is just that, a covering around something more precious. We know that in China many Christians sit crowded together in living rooms to hear the life saving Gospel. In WWII, Vietnam, and now in Iraq, worship is conducted in the field, in battle, where the wrapper is not so beautiful.
Solomon was aware of the relationship of a worship building to the people when he stood before the altar of the Lord, spread his hands toward heaven and prayed to dedicate the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. (I Kings 8:22-66) His prayer did not glorify the majesty of the structure he had crafted for worship. It was all about God. God keeping his promise to send the Messiah (Jesus). God hearing his people in prayer. It was about members of the congregation coming to the Lord with their failures -- in repentance, and receiving forgiveness. It was about welcoming the foreigner.
Solomon prayed to the Lord:
“And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive . . .
“When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers . . .
“Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name . . .
“Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you . . .”
In the New Testament, Jesus, when speaking to the woman at the well in John 4, essentially tells her that wherever he (Jesus) is, that is where God is, and that is where God’s people worship “in spirit and in truth.” Since the Lord promises to be among us as we gather around his Word and Sacraments, we see our church building as just a wrapper, a place, where we regularly meet Jesus.
Our church makeover can be a good starting point for sharing our faith. I want to encourage you to do this. Thinking like Solomon, we can use the excitement of a renewed building as an opportunity to talk to our friends, church members, and the foreigner about worship. We can invite them to experience our renovated church but, most importantly, to be where the Lord Jesus is present in spirit and truth, where prayers are heard, gifts are given and forgiveness reigns when we receive the body and blood of his Son poured out for us.
--- Pastor Rob
Our Congregation in Ministry:
Experiencing the Grace of Our Savior!
We have had a church “makeover” with our building renovation. More importantly, here is where we are going in ministry, only by the grace of God. – Pastor Rob
MAGNETIC CLIMATE Our church will be a comfortable, trusting, enjoyable, warm, and attractive place. Some of this comes from the physical place of worship and educational space. It is clean, useful and inviting. But much more than that, our church is to be a place where we are “pulled” or “drawn.” We encounter a magnetic quality, whether we have just set foot on campus or whether we have come across members somewhere else. Our church meets the needs of those outside and within its doors. It does not take long for us to discover what draws us in. It is Jesus – he is in, with and working through his Word and people. We are really drawn to him – to know more about him and to receive his gifts of Word, Sacrament, and Christian fellowship -- more than anything else.
LIVING WORSHIP Our church’s magnetic quality is reflected in vital, authentic, biblical worship as people receive his gifts and give back to him their entire lives in praise. We use all the appropriate musical, liturgical and technological gifts God provides to give him glory. It becomes hard to stay away or not to invite friends to join us.
PASSION FOR THE LOST This passion outweighs our ministry to the saved. You can see it in the fabric of what we do. Connecting with the lost is on the forefront of our minds. Members are witnessing, inviting and praying for those without Christ. And when guests show up, open doors allow newcomers an opportunity to encounter Jesus and his grace. At planning sessions leaders and members ask, “Will this decision exclude our guests or help them connect with Christ?”
PRAYER SATURATION The power of prayer is taken seriously throughout our church. It is evident whenever we gather together. We always lay at our Lord's feet our praises and our desires, seeking his will and blessing in all we do.
CHALLENGED AND STRETCHED Each person within our church places himself in a position where God can cause faith, works, knowledge, spiritual gifts and material offerings to grow. At Our Savior you are equipped to venture into new and exciting areas of service to the Lord. We help everyone find a place to serve that fits their passion, life experience and God given gifts.
MISSION EXCITEMENT We are a congregation developing vital links of service at home and around the world in mission work. We are known for our service. We see ourselves as “hands on” people, making use of the open doors God provides. We find excitement and reward as we take up the towel of service and share the Gospel in local and distant multicultural settings.
ORGANIZATIONALLY EFFECTIVE Our congregation is managed with a minimum of red tape and endless meetings. Our system of governance is productive. On one hand we are staffed for growth. On the other hand, lay mobilization moves the ministry forward. We are more concerned with growing ministries and introducing others to Christ than with our budgets, buildings and property.