Help Us Grow
Your Church Leaders have been listening!
This past Monday evening, the Deacons and Elders gathered together for their annual joint meeting and reflected on all that God has done among us this past year and the key areas where we believe we need God’s help in the coming year. There was lots of laughter, and as we went around the room with nearly 60 people, there were so many… echoes. I’ll forever stand on my soapbox and recognize that as one way God speaks.
The Deacons and Elders were listening to each other, to God, and to you, and now I want to extend the invitation for you all to listen… and see how God might encourage and move you as well.
First, here’s the Top 5 Ways they saw God at work @ CUPC this year:
1) Through our Children and Youth – from their excited running up for the Children’s Moment each week to their leadership in our worship services as lay readers, singers and preaching! The sheer numbers of children and babies fills our hearts with joy!
2) The Safety & Security Team’s Work – paying attention to the risks associated with any large gathering and planning for our health and safety, while maintaining our welcoming mission has been so encouraging to so many!
3) The 250 Celebrations – welcoming back former pastors and celebrating what God has done for two and a half centuries in this place – before us and among us – has been such an encouragement. We’re reminded we’re part of a very long tradition of worship and service in Canonsburg!
4) Mission Trips – seeing the face of Jesus in the face of strangers, who become family in the course of a week, being welcomed by them into homes and hearts has affected so many people as they seek to love our community here too.
5) Deacons Ministries – sitting with a Special (sometimes homebound) Friend, praying at a hospital bedside, hosting a special Fellowship Hour or midweek event or just jumping in to serve, many of our Deacons have been blown away by their chance to serve, and many Elders are grateful for their willingness!
There were many more ways that they recognized God being at work, but these five were echoed by many… and interestingly enough, they all connected to the Top 5 Ways they believe we need God’s Help @ CUPC in the coming year:
1) More Youth & Children’s Ministry Leaders – as more babies are born, and our children grow up, we need more passionate, committed, mature Adults to step into roles as mentors and teachers across our Children’s & Youth ministries. If you feel even the smallest nudge from the Spirit, I’d encourage you to pray and reach out to myself or Cathy Stewart to see how you might serve and ensure our Children & Youth are able to grow in Jesus!
2) Financial Help – as important as the DeZomba Gift has been for our church, one legacy gift is not sufficient to sustain a vibrant and growing congregation like ours. We need contributions from all our members to our financial health – and we need to step up to provide creative ways of communicating and raising funds to sustain our ministry. Our financial health is actually part of ensuring the safety & security of our church going forward. If you’d like to learn more, or step up your financial giving, reach out to Cheryl Smith (Director of Finance) or Dan Miller (Chair of Budget & Special Giving).
3) Activating & Re-Activating Members – while our church has re-grown in worship attendance since Covid, and reached out in new ways, there remain many members who are not engaged on a regular basis. Whether it was Covid, leadership transitions or simply life circumstances, there are opportunities for those of us who are involved, to reach out and help those who aren’t feel… re-welcomed into worship and participation in other areas. We’ve got a LONG (250 year) history and many people who’ve been so blessed by our church. Helping them know it, encouraging them and re-connecting with them is vital. We want and need God’s help to do this – and it can be as simple as a phone call or text message to say… “I miss you…”
4) More Discipleship & Growth Opportunities – the transformative work that happens when we gather together in small groups, to share our lives, to discuss the scriptures, to serve (like Mission Trips), or simply practice life together cannot be ignored. Providing more groups, more tools and simply… more opportunities to grow is important. I’ve already had a few people reach out with ideas – of what we might need, and what they might be able to offer. Do you have some too? Would you like to be part of a small group or a short-term experience (like a Mission Team, or class on a given topic)? Or would you like to lead something in an area you have experience or expertise? We will make room for you! Reach out to me!
5) Young Adult Ministry – with more and more graduates, we have more and more young adults who are needing something more than just a youth ministry. They’re having to navigate significant transitions in an ever-changing world and need both support and mentoring to navigate that. What does that look like? I don’ know… but our Deacons & Elders recognize the need and are asking for God’s help to figure it out. Do you have a heart for that demographic? Are you in that demographic? Do you have some ideas? Pray about it and if you feel lead, reach out to me!
I wanted to share this with our wider congregation and community for two primary reasons.
The first to lift up our leadership and encourage you with the fact that they are, indeed, prayerfully paying attention – they’re listening to God, looking around, and seeking to follow the Spirit’s lead, for your blessing and benefit. I imagine a lot of what they said (both highlighted above and other things) are echoing in your mind as well!
The second, is to provide you with an opportunity. Because if you’ve been sensing any of these things – both ways God has been active and ways we need God’s help… but you didn’t know what to do about it… maybe this is God’s way of giving you that nudge. Getting more people engaged, so we can continue to grow more and more into the community of Jesus that we’ve been called and formed into, is what we’re about. Growth happens as we gather, give, gaze (pay attention) and go with purpose. As we all pay attention together… maybe this is the nudge for you to take a prayerful, courageous step out to give – your time, your talent, your treasure in a new way.
God’s at work here… and we continue to need God’s help… and there’s an opportunity for you to be part of it!
Welcoming You to Grow in Jesus,
Pastor Don