What’s Next?

After the 100th Anniversary Celebration for Community Lutheran Church, I finally got a little time to rest. I know I wasn’t the only one. Dishes were done, furniture put back in its right spot, food distributed, etc. I got a little rest in, but then I needed to make sure I did the download, conversion, etc for the different services we recorded. Today, I ran into town to make sure I could get it on the internet for others to see. The service got done yesterday at about 3:30 pm, but the work was not done. I also had to take my robe in to get it cleaned as I spilled some communion wine on it. Thirty five years in ministry and I spill something on it within a month of being gifted a new robe. The event is done, but the work is not. We sometimes treat our ministry in that way. We look at the work and schedule that we believe is necessary and when it is completed, we consider that we are done. We go to church, and consider that our service for the week, not considering our need to be in constant worship with God. We serve on council and consider that our contribution and then go back to our own schedule. We go through confirmation and then assume all our learning and “class-work” are complete, not understanding the great power of God’s word to teach, equip, and discipline us. So... we just finished celebrating 100 years of serving God and seeking His direction. We have to ask the question, “Now what? Add it to the church history and then go back to normal again? We only have one member that would have been alive at the time the church began, even though she wasn’t coming here at that time. 100 years is a very long time. It would not be possible without the hand of God upon us. So, celebrating 100 years is celebrating God’s provision and direction. We can’t put this celebration in the books and forget the significance. As the congregation leaned on God, He was faithful to lead, bless, encourage, and prepare us. Are you ready? How far are you willing to go for God’s sake? It was nice to see the church full, and it can be again, but probably not without your help. The vast majority of members in a church come because a member invites them to come. Who are you going to call? Who are you going to invite? Who has God put on your heart? Outreach is a large part of, “What’s next?” Father, keep us from looking back and patting ourselves on the back for what we did. Help us to look forward to help lost souls. Amen