Sharing Our Faith

The first module discussed by our Beta Vitality Task Force was about Spiritual Disciplines, but as discussions go, it morphed into talking about sharing our faith. It was out of this discussion that we formed the Caring Committee, but a number of other ideas were extended, some of which we would like to implement, one has to do with sharing our faith in worship.

You might have noticed a few times during our prayer time in worship in addition to asking for “Joys and Concerns” I have invited you share about a time when you have experienced God in the last week. It hasn’t sunk in… we haven’t done a good job of explaining it. In Youth Group they share about their “Pows, Wows and Hows”. The “Pows” are the concerns, the “Wows” are the joys and the “Hows” are the places they experience God. That’s where this idea comes from. I will continue to give this a try; please listen for it and be prepared to share.

We also floated the idea of people sharing about their faith lives in a similar way to what we do in the Stewardship season. Like a Mission Moment – Why is the church important to you? What was a formative experience in your journey of faith? Who was someone who helped you in your faith? What communities have been a part of your life? What is your image of God and/or Jesus? I think we can learn so much from each other; I know that the times people have shared during the Stewardship Drive, it has been meaningful. If anyone is interested in doing this, please contact me.

The second module that we discussed in Beta Vitality was small groups. Here too the matter of sharing our faith is involved. There are all sorts of small groups. Some small groups are centered around a task (choir, band, quilting, etc.) Other small groups are study oriented (Sunday School). There are small groups that are primarily fellowship oriented (Saints and Sinners). And even committees are small groups. At our meeting we viewed a video featuring Reverend Curtis Brown from our own Annual Conference Office. Interestingly, he did not suggest that we all add a new program to our church – enlist every member to join a small group – he said that we first need to pay attention to the character or spirit of the groups we have. To recognize that wherever two or three are gathered in God’s sight it is a small group and as such an opportunity to meet God. Even the Trustees. As a matter of fact, Curtis shared a story of a church that invited a newer member to become the chair of the Trustees. This man had little experience in the church – his greatest experience was through Disciple Bible Study. In Disciple Bible Study meetings begin with a devotion, and not a simply Upper Room reading and a prayer. These devotions were check ins on everyone’s life. Now, we know what kind of people gravitate toward the Board of Trustees – they usually aren’t the touchy feely share your feelings types. Yet over time these Trustees became one of the strongest small groups in the church. How is your heart today? Do we all remember that question? How is it with your soul? Creating new small groups is also a good thing, but more fundamental towards transforming the church is enlivening and revitalizing the small groups we have recognizing that whenever we gather we are called to share our faith.

See you in worship. Pastor Jim