June '03 Christian Messenger NewsLetter

JUNE 2003

Greetings,

What is a purpose driven church? Rick Warren makes the point that “every church is driven by something. Traditions, finances, programs, personalities, events, seekers, and even buildings can each be the controlling force in the church.”

What do you think is the driving force in our church?

What does the Bible say should be the driving force for God’s church?

During worship on May 4^th, a daily Bible verse calendar was distributed. The calendar contained 42 Bible verses that stated the purpose of the church. I asked every worshipper to join me in reading and examining a verse of scripture each day. Each verse gives you and me a chance to look at Jesus’ ministry, to look at the images and names of the church, to look at what the New Testament church did, and to wrestle with what Jesus is telling you and me, the church of the 21^st century to do.

I am going to include a revised copy of that calendar starting with June 1st.

If you have been using the calendar distributed in worship, please continue to use that calendar. If you don’t have a copy of that calendar then use the calendar in this month’s Tidings.

As you read each verse, answer the following questions.

What does this verse say the purpose of the church is?

What does this verse call me to do to help fulfill the Biblical purpose of the church?

What contribution could you make to further the ministry of St. Paul’s?

Along with reading these daily verses of scripture the consistory members are reading and will begin discussing The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren.

Our goal and desire is to discover God’s will and vision for our church as well as renew our relationship and commitment to God and His church.

This is a very exciting time for St. Paul’s. Your prayers and participation are needed and welcomed.

In HIS Service,
Prayerfully yours in Christ,

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud
to the rock of our salvation.”
Psalm 95:1

Congregational Meeting

Consistory is calling for a special consistory meeting on Sunday, June 8^that 11:15 am. The reason for the meeting is to VOTE on the following recommendations.

R1 – The consistory recommends that the church adopt as our mission statement:

Jesus is Lord,
The Bible is The Word,
Love is the Way.

Reason: We believe that this is the message and mission of the church to proclaim in word and deed that:

Jesus is Lord. –

Philippians 2:10 “Therefore God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Bible is The Word –

John 4:4 Jesus said, Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God. Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

The Word of God is the absolute truth, which is living, life changing and dynamic as it works in us.

Love is the Way -

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

R2 – The consistory recommends that the church adopt as it's slogan/motto:

Bringing God’s Love
to the Heart of the Community.

Reason: 1 Corinthians 13

Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church. Great faith, acts of dedication or service, and miracle-working power produce very little without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful.

R3 – The consistory recommends that the church adopt as our logo the 125th anniversary logo with the following modifications, replace the globe within the heart with the outline of four human beings holding hands and replace the block shaped cross with a slender shapelier cross.

Reason:

The hands have a dual meaning. They can represent God’s Hand holding us in the hollow of his hand as well as our hands reaching out to bring God’s love to other people. The heart symbolizes the love of God. The silhouettes in the heart symbolize that we are united in the love of God. The cross that rises from the heart symbolizes that we live in the shadow of God’s sacrificial love.

The silhouettes of the four people replace the globe because we felt showing people was more personal. A practical reason was that the multi-colored globe would not copy well and therefore not
be apparent in black and white.

Congregational Meeting Minutes

A special meeting was held on Sunday, May 4^th.The purpose of the meeting was to share with the congregation the responses and concerns that were obtained at the congregational chats. Pastor reported that approximate seventy people attended the seven chats.

After addressing the chat survey results, Pastor stated that he and seven adults have met twice to discuss the topic of children receiving communion. They are contacting other churches as well as denominational publishing houses requesting sample curriculums for instructing children about communion.

Congregational Chat Survey

Name Change

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ - yea-16 nay-4
St. Paul’s Community Church - yea-11 nay-4
St. Paul’s Protestant United Church of Christ - yea-11 nay-2

Logo

125^thAnniversary Logo - yea-38 nay-8_

Slogan

Bringing God’s (Love) Heart to the Heart of the Community - yea-32 nay-3
Together with God’s Hand (Help) We Can Move Forward - yea-9 nay-3

Mission Statement

Jesus is Lord, The Bible is the Word, Love is the Way - yea-39 nay-4

Believe, Belong and Become Disciples for Christ - yea-9 nay-11

Worship Schedule

9:30 Education/Traditional Service 11 Praise Service - yea-15 nay-8

9:00 Traditional Service 10:15 Education 11:15 Praise Service - yea-13 nay-5

10:00 Traditional - yea-11 nay-1

General Comments:

Take care of the children but don’t sacrifice the older people.

Children should be confirmed before they receive communion.

Traditional service at 9:30 may be a hardship for the choir.

Keeping the name St. Paul’s honors the past members of the church.

We should keep the name St. Paul’s and bring honor to his name.

Community makes us sound like a ‘born again’ church.

The praise song after the call to worship should be one that the children know, perhaps a VBS song.

Do we know why people have left the church?

We need to do more outreach.

We all need to know what the church’s goal is so that we can all work at reaching that goal.

Put in back of bulletin why we are named St. Paul’s.