Season of Discernment

For seven weeks, the congregation of Rehoboth Presbyterian has been deep in discernment and discussion. We became intentional about recognizing and identifying God’s mission in this world and this community, and more aware of our role in assisting God on this mission. Together, we imagined the future of Christian worship, education, fellowship, service, and outreach through Rehoboth Presbyterian. Then, we organized and summarized all we heard or said.

In this LONG article, I will do my best to give that summary of the congregation's comments and feedback through those seven weeks. There’s no way to say it all. But, I will try to give the highlights and over-arching vision that emerged from those Spirit-led comments through this Season...

Recognizing God
We learned we discern the triune God best through creation, relationships, Holy Spirit, and through Christ as witnessed to in Scripture. We recognize God best wherever there is honesty, forgiveness, redemption, hope, trust, love, acceptance, change, and growth. However, many voices distract us from recognizing God… fear, guilt, threat, doubt, laziness, fatigue, evil, and anger.

Mission of God, “accomplishing the plan”
We believe God is resisting evil, healing, feeding, ending war, bringing peace, and saving lives. God is drawing together diverse people and placing them in congregations. God is conforming the world and God’s people to the image of God, unifying us, and teaching us to share and love. God is strengthening us, challenging us, and reassuring us.

We also believe God established Rehoboth as the “Presbyterian, Reformed church” in this community. God is filling Rehoboth with ministers who have big, generous hearts and a deep desire to serve. God is bringing others to share Rehoboth's abundance, and calling RPC to be a safe haven that provides shelter and comfort. And, God is commissioning Rehoboth to spread the good news, starting here in this community.

Christian Worship
In worship, we feel God’s presence and our deep connections to God and others. True worship is Christ-centered, is personal, but also has self-abandon which sets down the individual so the body can be in one accord. Worship should be grounded in tradition, but not necessarily traditional. We currently worship through Sunday mornings, special services, by extending worship to those who cannot be with us, and through small groups.

We imagine the future worship at Rehoboth as starting reflective, but building, adding energy, passion through music, scripture, preaching, and the celebration of the sacraments. We also imagine other times or days when we should worship together in order to reach out to others.

Christian Education
We learn about God best when discussions are passionate, positive, open-minded, and are helping us make connections between this God-given faith, the God-given scriptures, and our God-given life. Good Christian education “quenches your thirst, but makes you thirsty,” centers us, and never leaves us the same. We currently learn through three adult Sunday Schools, Worship, Small Groups, Leadership gatherings, and others. (VBS, Kids@Rehoboth, RefleXions)

We recognize areas for improvement in Christian education. The children & youth need good Sunday AM education. Young adults need time to study and discuss together, regardless of day or place. Adult classes are the “same class offerings since the 70s,” and feel “hard to join,” or “closed.” They are mostly “lecture” and “direct Bible.” We imagine discussion classes with moderators in addition to lecture classes with teachers. We imagine classes beginning with topics or issues in life, and walking towards the Bible. We appreciate the occasional joint classes, but depend on the smaller classes for relationships and fellowship.

Christian Fellowship
Fellowship is not just about being friendly. Fellowship is also about providing opportunities to make (and to be) friends. As visitors consider becoming new members, they will need to know/feel/believe they are sincerely invited, welcomed, and included into ministry alongside friends.

We currently provide Fellowship opportunities through annual events (Carnival, Concert, Homecoming, Golf tournament, Thanksgiving, Softball), monthly events (Shuffleboard, PW, Keenagers, First Friday Fun Night) and weekly events (Sunday Schools, Choir rehearsals, PYG). We are an older congregation. Yet, we realize the needs for sincere community among children and younger families. Therefore, we imagine growing fellowship ministries that recognize the unique age, stage, and needs in life of all ages, with an immediate focus on those younger. We want to provide intergenerational fellowship. Ideas included suppers, fellowship time around church, use of the Gym for athletics and fitness, with good childcare always provided.

Christian Service
The word “Missions” we gave back to God. All we do is inside God’s great mission, whether praying, studying, or feeding the hungry. Service is just one way we participate in God’s mission. We particularly appreciate serving (or supporting those who serve) when the service matches our God-given resources, abilities, and passions, builds relationships, and makes a difference.

We currently serve each other (teaching, visiting, taking Communion…), those given to us (Stephen Pantry, Kids@Rehoboth, Thornwell, Networks, Body Life fund, Seminary support…), and the world (Special Offerings, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Rivers of the World (ROW), Global missionaries…)

We recognize the “tension between writing a check and serving,” and would like for all our service ministries to somehow “connect back.” We also recognize that we may be over committed in service dollars each year, promising 10% to service ministries, but usually giving 13-14%. As we refocus, we imagined spreading our service dollars wisely and efficiently across global (35%), national/denominational (15%), local (40%), and service to our own membership (10%). And, we desire more “hands-on” service opportunities.

Christian Outreach
Outreach (aka Evangelism) is the communication of the good news of Jesus Christ. We “feel” it because it brings us closer to God and one another, and speaks to a true “need.” It is personal (like an invitation to friends, neighbors, or family) and at the same time communal (like advertising and being ready and aware of the visitor in our midst).

We imagine improving our Outreach, from inviting our neighbors, to improving our signage. We recognized our space as a God-given gift for outreach, and hope to grow partnerships with others in the community, particularly through the Gym. We recognized the critical need for organized greeting, welcoming, & follow-up efforts at worship and all church events, to connect back to those who visit with us.

Space Issues
The Sizemore Group (our Master Planner) has helped us reexamine this God-given space. We are so grateful for the abundant and ample space, and for how it has served God in the past. Now, we are ready to ask how it could be modified to better help us fulfill God’s mission for the future.

We were very honest with each other, speaking the truth in love. We confessed from the street, “We look like an empty building,” with little “curb appeal.” The current “orange cones,” steep entry ramp, and varied parking take courage to enter. Once a visitor does enter, there is no signage, and no obvious main entrance. Once inside, the space is plentiful but too spread out, and was described as “a maze,” with “no natural flow.” The interior feels “formal,” and “dated,” instead of “fresh.”

We imagined casual gathering places near entrances, where groups could share a common coffee pot. Handicap access is critical. We need convenient and abundant handicap parking, easy ramps, and easier connections between buildings without having to go outside. If we continue to use multiple stories, we imagined a central elevator.

Other Issues
We uncovered several issues that make these changes hard for us. We uncovered a worry, where we have a “limited number of people,” and that volunteering for something means “we’d get stuck with it” forever. But, we realized we are here to serve, not to be served, and we promised to share loads.

We uncovered an impatience, with some frustration over suggestions that did not become effective more quickly. But, we realized that it took decades for Rehoboth to fall from abundant members and programs to where we are today. It may take at least years for a turn to take effect.

We uncovered a worry that there may be “too much man, and not enough Lord” in all this dreaming and planning. But we remembered that Jesus the Christ was both fully human, and fully God. This same God in Christ through the ages has called simple and sinful people just like us to do the Lord’s tasks.

We uncovered a significant amount of fear… fear of change, fear of others who might be very different, fear of losing control or power, and fear of this church closing. However, we remembered what Jesus said often to his disciples, “Do not be afraid,” and we imagined turning our fear into energy and passion for Christ.

We uncovered a few threats that some will “leave the church” if we change, or threats of heresy or apostasy in our discernment and direction. However, we also appreciated our open, public process, and remembered Jesus’ methods of moving disciples by speaking openly, the truth in love. We choose to trust the open, public, non-threatening voices over ones of anger or threat.

We uncovered a concern to be true to our “Presbyterian” heritage, and the church be “Session led.” Yet we also recognized the difference between Session-led and Session-controlled. Individuals bring passion, vision, and relationships to ministry. We imagined a Presbyterian structure where Session is our spiritual guide to help groups of individuals passionate about ministry grow good fruit for God’s garden.

The Uniting Vision
We are still searching for the “hedgehog” (See "Good to Great" by Jim Collins), the trinity of our unique purpose in God’s mission, where our God-given passions and our God-given resources overlap with the work God is calling us to do. That work is “Growing Disciples,” as in those who not only believe, but also follow.

In “Growing,” we mean two things. One, we imagine every disciple in or around Rehoboth is growing in their relationship to God, and in their ability to show God-like love to their neighbor. Two, we imagine more and more individuals deciding to practice and grow in their discipleship through Rehoboth. Therefore, our role in the mission of God is to provide ministries that feed every disciple in their personal growth, and that add new disciples to the number growing.

In Genesis 26, Issac named the other wells Esek and Sitnah because the people quarreled and fought over them. But he named the third well Rehoboth because there, the people found room. Then, Issac proclaimed they would be fruitful in the land. We, Rehoboth Presbyterian, imagine this congregation being a place that makes room for more disciples, and that helps each disciple be fruitful.

Discipleship, Now & 5 Years from Now
The current membership rolls claim 126 “active” members and “14” baptized. However, some of these 126 and 14 do not actually worship or serve through Rehoboth, as they live in different cities, or have not attended Rehoboth or have attended other congregations for years now.

By the close of 2013, in five years, Session is planning for 230 active members, and 50 baptized members. That is significant growth, but more than possible with God’s help.

What’s Next?
This Sunday, September 7 is Rally Day, when the church will rally around the first draft of the Master Plan. We will launch new education classes for 2008-2009. Bud Lawler from Session and Ben Darmer from the Master Planner will present the first impressions and draft of the changes to our ministries and space.

The rest of September, Session and the Master Planner will work together to assemble the plan, in terms of ministries, persons, financials, and space.

October 12 is our joint Homecoming and Stewardship Kickoff celebration. The latest version of the Master Plan will be posted at the church, and here on the blog, for questions and comments. With this vision before us, we will enter Stewardship with the opportunity not to just give FROM our income, but to give TO an inspired vision for the future of Rehoboth Presbyterian.

Thank You to all who participated!
Wow! I am so amazed at the faithfulness of those who came, spoke, shared, listened, prayed, and participated all through this Season of Discernment. I am thankful to those of you keeping us with the season through friends, the newletters, the website, or here. On behalf of the Session, I thank you all for your presence, your courage, and your participation!

Rev. Joel

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The new "front porch"

There was a time when people sat on the front porch and talked about stuff with each other. I'm in that strange middle age. I am old enough to remember seeing grown-ups sitting there, rocking, swinging, laughing, crying, occasionally whispering. I am also young enough to seldom have had opportunities to sit on front porches, and seldom had peers who would know what to do if we sat there...

In some ways, I pine for that good ol' front porch. I've been invited to sit on that real, attached to the house, front porch with older members of our church. It truly is sacred ground. I'm sure there are many things to learn from this front porch space. For example, things said on that front porch are often said raw, from the deepest depths of unprocessed feelings. But listeners get that. When grandma gets mad at cousin Joe for something and calls him a name, we all know she still loves him. She's just mad. When dad complains about the decisions of his daughter, we all know he loves her, and wills the best for her. He's just worried she might be making a big mistake.

That front porch still exists for the younger generation. Its called a Blog, or Web Log. Blogs are part bulletin board, part journal, part front porch. As we continue "blogging" with each other, I hope we can see this space as the front porch of our church, where we sit, and swing, and rock with one another... and hear each other laugh and cry, complain and vent, rejoice and celebrate, wonder philosophically, and tell stories of past, present, and future.

So, if you have some "front porch" stuff to say to/about/for/with the church, drop me an email. I'll add you as an "author" to the blog, meaning you'll be able to "post," not just comment. And you too will be able to pull up a rocking chair, or a keyboard, and start a deep, honest chat with your church family.

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Fires of Change

The other night, in that little steel fire pit thingy we have sitting on our back deck, we lit a fire. It was cold enough to need one, but not so cold that having on in that little saucer didn't help. Shadow and I scrounged around the backyard for small sticks to build the tee pee, and pine cones to make hot embers quickly. After some significant blowing, relighting, and eventually some newspaper, Jill and & I had a nice little hand, foot and face warmer...

At one point, I found myself mesmerized by the dancing flames. Greens. Blues. bright Whites, to Yellows, through medium and dark Oranges, to darker Reds. Spits, and hisses. Pops and sizzling sounds. Those smaller sticks eventually collapsed as they burned down to smaller diameters of brittle ash. Still, they filled the basin with their remnants, and continued to generate significant heat for the fresh sticks above. As long as new fuel was added above, the coals below continued to glow. As the new sticks burned and fell into the coals, I would replace them with more above, sometimes larger ones, now that the fire base was strong enough.

As, as often happens to me, I began to sense the analogy for my life, for church, for this creation in that small fire. Church is the most obvious. A new church gets the right kindling, the right fuel, and the right spark. With the right breath blowing, that little spark becomes a good base fire that can then handle more sticks, larger ones. I can imagine Sam Christopher and others being those sparks and pine cones to turn the idea of a fiery congregation into the young Rehoboth Presbyterian back in the early 50s.

Some of those earliest members burned and burned for quite a while, before finally collapsing into the basin, where they no longer provided flame, but continued to provide significant heat. For decades, Rehoboth continued to pile new sticks on top of the solid base of hot coals. As those coals burned out, the sticks above were collapsing into coals. Whenever someone looked at the fire that was Rehoboth, the coals were red hot, though still, the sticks were plenty and burning, there was a decent pile of wood nearby ready to be tossed on when needed, and there was Sam and others out in the woods and neighborhoods gathering fresh sticks for the fires and piles.

At some point, though, we forgot to keep on collecting new fuel. In the 80s, we used up our supply pile. In the 90s, we stacked our last sticks, and let them burn into coals. In the early 2000s, those coals continued to burn hot, but with no new fuel above, felt their heat being generated into thin air.

Today, I feel like we are blowing on those coals, attempting to generate whatever heat we can, dropping an occasional small stick or twig on to keep things burning. Meanwhile, we wait, hoping and praying a team will return soon with armfuls of new sticks and twigs ready to be placed wisely over the coals, and to become our new base fire, as we imagine a roaring bonfire once again, from which all the neighborhood can feel the warmth.

But, do we have that team out there gathering? Do we have enough twigs and sticks gathered to keep the warmth of the coals? I'm just not sure. But I know that for now, this is the fire I am called to tend. God, please, let there be gatherers headed even now into the woods to gather new fuel. God, let these burning embers see the pleasure of new, good wood above them before they burn out and go cold. God, please, if need me, lay me across the heat, and let me be one good stick, that becomes one of the coals, that keeps your great fire burning. God, please...

~Rev. Joel

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Offended by the Good News

There's something else we are learning, here at Rehoboth. The "Good News", as in Gospel, as in euanggelion (or evangelism), is not our private property. In fact, when we treat the "Good News" as if it is a benefit of membership, we are doing disservice to the one who called us to be of service to God, to each other, and the community around us...

This realization is turning our attention beyond our walls, property lines, and membership rolls, which is a good thing. We are realizing that advertising in our own bulletin, our own newsletter, and our own email list is just internal communication, not evangelism, and does next to nothing to share the Good News with others. We actually have to take the Good News with us everywhere we go, into grocery stores, malls, job places, homes, neighborhoods... everywhere.

So, we are brainstorming and trying to find creative ways to spread the Good News to those in our immediate community, in a 3 mile radius. We've come up with all kinds of ideas... new signs and banners for our property? Yes, that's not bad, but it still limits the position of the good news to inside our property lines. So, we push farther, looking for ways to place the good news in the midst of neighborhoods and communities around us, and let it do its amazing work. So, we've come up with other ideas... neighborhood yard signs, stickers for our car windows, direct mailings, ads for neighborhood newspapers (Dekalb Neighbor, Tucker Times, Decatur Dispatch), posters for neighborhood gathering places, door hangers for front doors of homes, magnets for mailboxes, and ads for email newsletters for other community organizations (like swimming pools, schools, ladies clubs, etc...)

This is when things get sticky. It started when we put out Preschool signs in neighborhoods around us. There were other churches/preschools that took offense at our opening of the new Preschool ministry, and at our advertising for it in "their" neighborhood. The strangest thing is, the other preschools in the area are at full capacity, with no more room and long waiting lists. Still, the fact that our sign was in "their" neighborhood started an odd little squabble. The Good News is not always well received, even by fellow believers.

Then, recently, we were going to pay to put a half page ad in a community email newsletter of another neighborhood nearby. The copy of the ad said:

"Easter is a beautiful way to explore the journey of Christ. So, imagine how great a few more days might be? Explore the meaning of Christ, and take the entire journey with us.
7 Weeks of Easter
Instead of One Trip to Church on Easter, Take the Whole Journey."

It then laid out the dates and times for all our morning and evening worship services throughout the season of Easter.

Unfortunately, the editor of the newspaper responded with...

"Has XXXXXX talked with you about the "Easter Sunday is a beautiful way to explore the journey of Christ...."? It might be too much for some members. Can you remove it...?" (emphases added)

So, an ad... for a church... about Easter... and opportunities to worship... can't mention Easter... or Christ... because it might be "too much" for some members of the organization?

This is the price the modern church must pay for years of hitting people over the head with scripture. This is the cost to us of our ancestors who took for granted that everyone went to church somewhere, so they neglected their own neighborhoods. We have wasted a generation NOT sharing the Good News, and so many do not understand that it is Good. They, instead, believe it to be danger, hell, judgment, do like me or die to sin, believe like me and be saved... The Good News was defined by others for a whole generation, while the church slept, rested on its laurels and the successes of the post World War II boom. Many of those others came from inside the church itself, finally giving up because they found no Good News in the church, let alone from it. This makes our job that much harder, but it is still our job to do.

Now, I'm not mad, and I don't want anyone to get mad at this reaction. I am also not shocked, and I hope none of you are shocked either. After all, we've been warned that worse things than this will happen to all those who follow Him and attempt to carry the Good News with them into towns and communities and places of work. What I do want to do is prepare us.

As we turn our focus off of our own belly buttons, and begin to truly live into the Mission of sharing the Good News in the communities around us, there will not be some huge welcome mat and a crowd so happy to see us. People will not cheer and say, "Boy, we were beginning to wonder if you would ever invite us?" Nope. The reaction we can expect is, "Sorry, I've heard this before, and it's not all that good." Our response to that cannot be, "YES IT IS!!!" Our response has to be something that shows itself as truly new... The church they remember from their own childhood may not have told the true Good News. But our goal everyday is to journey together, and to explore Christ is ways that opens us up to the deeper truths of amazingly Good News.

Just because they may think they already know its not Good, or because they don't know what to do with the Good message we bring, or just because the Good News is a little unsettling, or just because it might even cause a mild backlash by some, that is no excuse to give up or stop.

I'd love to hear your perspectives on the ways the Gospel is not Good News to the modern world, and ways to remind the world of the real Good News of God through the saving death of a risen Lord.

Rev. Joel

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Cash Dog (as opposed to Cow)

Money is a interesting topic at church, yes? I'm not just referring to whether or not the church has any either. I mean the great diversity of money-centered discussions that church leaders can undertake. For example, what is a pledge or tithe? Is a tithe in the Scriptures the same then as it is for us now? How should we give to church, as a pledge or promise or tithe with no strings attached, trusting the leadership of the church to discern God's will and to put those combined resources to best use... OR... should we designate, tag, or earmark our offering so that it supports the key ministries we believe are most important, thus communicating to the leadership where to put the priorities? What about the church's support, or tithing, to higher governing bodies or denominations... should that be untethered or designated...?

I have some pretty strong opinions here. For example, I think its a mistake to let those with the ability to write the biggest checks set the direction of the church just by receiving and depositing whatever earmarked gift they offer. There's a story here at Rehoboth from some years back about a substantial gift offered to our Sanctuary remodel if and only if it the remodelling project would include gold carpet. And thus the quandary. Receive and deposit the money, and install gold carpet, even though the anointed team doesn't want gold. "Hey, who cares what color it is if it's free" attitude. Or, "Thank you, but we've decided to go with dark blue, and hope you will still give to the fund," and risk losing both the money and the member. Hmmm...

I think I am ready to call this kind of church financing the "tail wagging the dog." In our polity, we greatly distrust the masses, and leave almost nothing to a vote of the congregation, save property and pastor. We've seen how easily a mass of people can be easily swayed by hot topics at the crucifixion of Jesus. We also distrust any one individual holding too much of the power, money, or control. Our denomination flowed out of the great attempt to reform the church so that no one person, save Christ himself, would be the mediator between us and God and God's word to us. So, we fall in the middle... congregations elect smaller bodies. Those bodies discern and discuss and decide. And those bodies rotate. Pastors have pastoral authority, but little governing authority, the responsibility of leadership, but not the hiring and firing power (shall we say) necessary to get the job done no matter the cost or who gets hurt in the process. Our polity makes us go a little slower, and makes us talk it out with each other, at least when we actually understand and use our polity.

What I mean by the tail wagging the dog, is that when one big donor, or even one small group of big donors, show up with their pot of gold, the modern church is willing to drop polity to cash the check. In real Presbyterian church, the leadership of the church should set the direction, and then go find the resources to accomplish the vision. That's the dog wagging the tail. But here, the great vacuum of leadership allows those with deep pockets and decent intentions step around (or on) polity, and assume the role of leader/visionary. The tail (money) wags the dog (leadership).

Some of my peers do not agree. I've heard my peers speak of these large, generous gifts as a sign of the Spirit at work. I've heard them suggest that we Presbyterians are, once again, too stuck in our polity to let the Spirit flow when these earmarked donations arrive with all of their baggage on the Presbytery or Session floor.

But its not polity that has me stuck. Its theology. We believe that the Spirit is best discerned in community. That community is intentionally designed as one of prayer, and honesty, and commitment to one another. That community is elected and ordained and installed, all of which are significant signs of Holy Spirit. That community is tasked, primarily, with setting the vision and direction of the church, and to amassing and activating the necessary resources to participate with God in the mission given us by God. I find considerable evidence of Spirit in Session meetings, and Presbytery Coordinating Council. To suggest that a large check is "Spirit" is like saying that the whole process of nominating, electing, training, ordaining, installing, and community building is NOT Spirit. Plus, I keep going back to the widows mite being the greater gift.

All this to say, money is difficult in church. I am quite sure money should not lead the church. It seems that if the church is not willing to lead, though, money has no problem stepping in (on, over, around, right through) the church leadership in order to makes its will known. I just hope we have the guts to look for the vision, and then to rearrange the money to accomplish it. I'm afraid though that the momentum of old money habits, and new money inputs, will beat out community built vision. Pray not.

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Hedgehog

In Jim Collin's book, "Good to Great," he describes the unexpected patterns and steps some corporations went through on their drastic shift from "good" companies to "great" ones. I've been using this book as a lens on the church world, lately. After all, the church is the corpus, the body, the corporation of Christ...

One really awesome image and analogy for the process of moving an organization from Good to Great is the Hedgehog - Each Good to Great company found their "Hedgehog," that place where (1) their Passions, (2) what they can be Best at, and (3) what drive their "Economic" engine all overlap.

Well, the church world doesn't translate these three very well.

Passion - Now that one makes sense. What are the events, ministries, programs, activities, opportunities, etc... of the church that people really get excited about? The one's where people show up to help, show up to do, and stick around to clean up after with smiles on their faces, whether from the past, the present, or even if never tried on Rehoboth soil before?

Be the Best at - When the members of Rehoboth talk about what we are Best at, is seems to always include the depth of our relationships. When we look back, we remember times when Sunday school classes developed deep bonds. We've had youth groups that held together through very thin years because they were so deeply bonded to one another. Our current Sunday School classes are deeply bonded inside themselves. Many of the bonds formed at Rehoboth continue long after people move away and begin attending other churches. They still hold on to the relationships formed here. Also, at 126 members, we can realistically expect the Pastor and staff to know us personally and to respond to us personally, something no Mega-church could promise.

Drive our Economic engine - This one is wierd for church. We are not here to make money. We, have, however, been given by God certains resources to do God's mission and ministry in this community. There is a fair assumption to be made in imagining the better stewards we are of what we've been given, the more we might be given to manage in the future. (Parable of the Talents) I wonder if the right church translation for this category is stewardship, proper use/investment of our resources (people, time, monies, space) in ways that reflect what we are Passionate about, and in ways that further enhance our Relationships... with God, one another, the community around us, and the world.

So Rehoboth...
What are we Passionate about?
What enhances and deepens your relationships with God, each other, and the community?
What resources do we have that best suit these Passions and opportunities for Relationships?

Awaiting your brutally honest responses,
Rev. Joel

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Widows, Orphans, and Aliens

Due to AJ's prompting this morning, here I go, posting the cud that I've been chewing on ever since Christmas. My only hesitation is that I am still chewing, and not sure if I'm ready. But as AJ noted, "It's been over a month!" And this place is not one of decisions, but discussions. So here I go, dumping my brain work, not fully committed to it, and welcoming your feedback...

From scripture, there is a regular focus on the "widows, orphans, and aliens." There are some periods in the history of Israel where they are negligent of their widows and orphans, and are afraid of the aliens among them. They forget how to care for and treat those who are abandoned or alone. In their glory days, they neglect them, because they are too busy growing their national and personal economy. In their bottom days, they neglect them because they are too busy hoarding for the future, and for themselves.

As for aliens, there are moments in the history of Israel when the people of Israel expel from their midst all those who come from different backgrounds, those who may see the world differently or think differently or look differently. They fear having their ways of worship contaminated by these outsiders. They go as far as to even break marriages, and covenants between nations, in an attempt to return Israel to the remembered purity, by first confronting and removing anyone would might introduce something new or different into the system. Despite all these strange reactions of the people, prophets repeatedly called them on it, and begged the nation to stretch itself, and to FIRST care for the widows, the orphans, and the aliens, even at the sacrifice of their own possessions. The prophets expressed it as if God wanted them, the widows, orphans, and aliens, to receive preferential treatment from the rest of us.

Jesus lived the prophet's vision, regularly embracing the widows, orphans, and aliens, and constantly turning the leaders of the synagogue to bend their traditions and their rules to better love and serve these three peoples. The Pharisees and Scribes were naturally resistant, and bucked Jesus about these things, trying to keep the synagogues and temples for those who were already there, who already understood the rules, and who were ritually obedient to their traditions. But Jesus insisted, broke with tradition, ate with the aliens, defended the widows, and said crazy things like, "Let the little children come to me."

Rehoboth has widows, orphans, and aliens all around us. Widows may be those in and around our congregation who find themselves alone, or stranded, considerably more dependent than they used to be. We could consider anyone who has lost their spouse, but also those who have lost their mobility, their home, their freedom, or parts of their memory, to be included in the Rehoboth definition of "widows." How often is the membership of this church reaching outside of 2729 Lawrenceville to touch the "widows"? Do we leave that task for the Pastor, and for the Deacons to do? When the Visitation committee of the Diaconate asks for help extending morning communion to those who could not be with us, I feel like people are hiding under the pews, more that raising their hands. I do hope in the new year, we all remember and turn ourselves toward serving the widows around and of Rehoboth.

The other two, orphans and aliens, pair together for us, I think. I am interpreting for Rehoboth that orphans means any and all children, and aliens means any and all visitors to our this property that are not members or worshippers. For Rehoboth, EVERY child on the premises is an orphan to us... That would mean every Arbor Montessori student, every Kids@Rehoboth preschool student, every indoor soccer player, every Connections 36 child, every grandchild, every Stephen pantry child... these are the orphans of Rehoboth. The aliens would be all of their parents, not to mention the others who happen to use this facility for anything at all, like the Lion's Club, the Volleyball group, or the SAnon group. These are the orphans and aliens of Rehoboth. The question here is... How much of what we do and plan to do with all of these God-given resources continues to be for the membership of this church, versus how much is for these non-members, these orphans and the aliens? As long as our to-do lists, our budgets, and our meetings focus on what the membership wants and doesn't want, likes and doesn't like, instead of what these non-members want, need, like, we will continue to neglect God's call to care for the orphans and aliens.

I think God is calling us, the membership of Rehoboth, to no longer focus so directly on serving ourselves, but to focus on uniquely serving the widows, orphans, and aliens among us. I feel God pulling us to prioritize those ministries where the primary focus is not the membership of Rehoboth who already attend worship every Sunday, but those people all around us who do NOT. I sense that something about our Preschool efforts, and the Connections 36 ministry to 3rd-6th graders, are reflective of our calling, and our best stewardship. And I invite any and all to further reflect on this with me...

In Him,
Rev. Joel

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Worship

Over the last two years, the feel and flow of worship have changed a bit... I say a bit... I imagine others might use a different word there... Anyway, here are a few ways I can imagine, off the top of my head, in which Rehoboth worship is different than, say, 3 years or 30 years ago:...

• We've added the whole confessional liturgy (call to, prayer of, silent, sung, declaration of pardon, gloria patri, and sharing the peace)


• We've moved the affirmation of faith and doxology to after the sermon


• We've moved the minute for mission and tithes & offerings to just after the affirmation


• We've move the prayer of the people to after the offering


• We've added liturgically colored paraments to the pulpit, font, and table


• We've shifted the pulpit off center to open up the view of the choir


• We've replaced the recessed, invisible, stainless baptismal bowl with a large, blue, glass with little fishies on it bowl


• We've stepped up from Communion about 4-5 times per year to about 12 times per year


• We've learned to take Communion by intinction (tearing and dipping) about 3 of those 12 times


• We've added several new services, including Ash Wednesday, Hanging of the Green, and All Saint's Day


• We've tried a different feel for Evening worship, guitar, powerpoint, discussion style... but have all but stopped Evening worship at this point


• We've added "This is the Word of the Lord... Thanks be to God" after scripture readings


• We've moved the prayer for illumination to before the scripture readings, instead of just before the sermon


• We've moved the children's moment to after the scriptures are read


• We've added a musical choral introit just before our call to worship


• We've moved the big choral anthem to just after the sermon, before the affirmation


• We've used a variety of texts as our affirmation, not just the apostles creed


• We've changed the bulletin from one 8-12x11 sheet, folded, occasionally with an insert... to two 8-1/2x14 sheets folded, one for the worship, and the other for prayers, announcements, and schedules


• We've added a "morning thought" to the cover of the weekly bulletin to give us access to what one scholar or thinker or poet wrote in regard to this morning's focus text


• We've added more to the liturgist's role, including leading the call to worship and the morning prayer


• We've added a "ministry associate" role (seminary student/member... AJ)


• We often have yet another person involved in the announcements or minutes for mission


• I start the service from the pews, with the people


• I lead the declaration of pardon from the font, pouring water


• I lead the prayer of the people while walking the center aisle amongst the people


• I give the benediction while heading for the doors to the church, and don't really consider my job done until I have opened those doors to make room for us to launch into the world

That's A LOT of action. We need some reflection. The committee and I are open to your feedback about the feel, flow, aura of worship. Does it move you from self towards God? Does it direct your thoughts and energies towards God? Does it enable you to hear and discern God's calling on your life? Are there any steps or transitions in worship that you find particularly meaningful? That you don't understand? That do nothing for your worship of God? I/We would love your feedback, so please write honestly and often!

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Stewardship

I remember the collective gasp in the room, when in a seminary class on "Congregational Leadership & Church Administration," the presenter suggested that Pastors should know the giving patterns of every member... Yep, you heard me right. This person, brought in the by the professor to help teach seminary students how to be involved in the financial aspect of the church, suggest we, as pastors, should and need to know the giving habits of every member.

Well, you can imagine what happened next... Immediate dissension from a vocal group of opponents. The barrage included things like...

"If pastors knew what everybody gave, they would play favorites, whether they wanted to or not."
"A person's giving habits is private business, just between them and God, and should not be part of the pastor's thoughts when they call or visit or interact with them."
"The pastor should take care of their spirit, their walk with God, and shouldn't mess with how they use or give their money."

Then, we started to hear ourselves. Were we really defending our calling as pastors, or were we defending having to divulge our giving patterns to our pastors? I wasn't sure anymore. That conversation has continued to echo in my head everytime we enter stewarship drives, or prepare budgets.

I've decided for a middle road. I, as pastor, am not interested in HOW MUCH someone gives. I suppose that is between them and God. I do all in my power to NOT know this information, to dodge conversations, and to duck reports that might show me this. Although, I can imagine a needy widow giving too much, out of guilt or some other unheatlhy motivation, to the point of jeopardizing her own livlihood. As pastor, I would like to be able to step in there. Or, I can imagine a fairly wealthy person, with lots of disposable income, dropping a $10 check in the plate whenever they remember to bring a checkbook, those few times they come. This too deserves some pastoral attention. But, without the numbers, these opportunities are off the table.

One thing I am asking for is those who do not pledge and may or may not give. An active member who will not enter into covenant with the mission of God through the church is a sign. Has the church leadership not made clear its vision and mission for the new year? Has the church leadership done a sufficient job in communicating the stewardship campaign itself? Maybe not. Those who do not pledge, but often give, may not understand the role of pledge cards in the planning process. A simple phone call may settle that misunderstanding, and lead us to better and better, meaning more accurate, planning and priority sessions.

Then, an Active member who neither pledges nor contributes to the church is a different matter. Is the person in such need, financially, that food, clothing, and shelter are eating up 100% of their income? If so, what can the church do for them? Or, is this person contributing to the greater church through some other means, just not through their congregation of membership? I'd like to think there is a reasonable explanation for these situations. But, I'm not confident.

In the end, I can imagine 100% of the congregation participating, financially, in the mission of God through Rehoboth. I would love to have 100% of the membership submit a pledge, and then 100% of the membership fulfill or exceed their pledge. Wouldn't that be wonderful for session, planning, prioritizing, etc...? But, 100% is seldom achieved in any situation.

As of Dec 2, our 84 family units (unique addresses) from among our 123 active members had submitted only 35 pledge cards. I do hope that between now and year end, and in the years to come, we find more and more people willing and able to covenant with us in the support of mission and ministry through Rehoboth.

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Authority of Session

People seem to think power in the church falls into one of three places.

There are many church-folk who think that "majority rules." I'm not sure if this is a Congregational church culture of the South, or if its a National culture because people still think the United States is a Democracy where "majority rules." (We're not, by the way, and never have been a Democracy.) So, some members in some Presbyterian churches assume that in order to make a big decision, we need to call a congregational meeting so the congregation can vote. These folk assume the power in the church belongs to the members, or the congregation...

Then, there are church folk who defer almost all decisions to the Pastor/Minister/Bishop/Priest/Iman/Sheik/etc... you get the point... in the room. These folk can be discussing or debating an important issue. Someone will ask an interesting question, and all heads will turn to "THE" Pastor in the room, waiting for his/her answer, as if that's the only one that matters. Mind you, very seldom do these folk AGREE with the pastor from top to bottom on every issue. They typically look to the pastor assuming he/she will agree with them, and that will end the debate in their favor. Very seldom do these folk support their Pastor in those decisions where they disagree. But something in their DNA makes them turn to the Pastor in the room first, as if what will be said by him/her carries more weight than anybody else's opinion. These folk assume the power in the church comes through the one Pastor/Priest person.

Then, there's the Presbyterians. This sounds kind of sad, but we don't trust individuals, not even Pastors. Because, we know sin exists, and is ridiculously powerful. Put a group of regular, intelligent, god-fearing people near one strong leader, and you've got WWII on your hands, even in a congregation. We also don't trust the masses. People in mass are too easy too scare, and are too selfish. If we left it up to the masses, we would expect healthcare, good roads, a strong military, and excellent education, but would not be willing to pay any taxes for these things. That's what the masses do. Just ask Jesus, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, but was crucified by the crowd. So, we put the power not in one, and not in the many, but in the Session... large enough to have some counter balance, small enough to be held accountable to its oaths.... large enough to expect some diversity of opinion, small enough to stick together despite those differences. And we sit the Pastor down in Session as well, as moderator, with vote, as yet another check and balance on both the Session, and the Pastor.

I love Session. I only wish more Presbyterians had a clue about the benefits of it.
Rev. Joel

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Website

Did you see it? Did you even notice? Over the last 2 months, our website has been down... kaput... nada... It was my fault, as I totally misunderstood the service we let expire. Anyway, the website is in the process of coming back now. And we of course need your feedback. See any errors? Wish it had something? Any aesthetic comments? Not that I'm promising 100% satisfaction or your money back. But, I do love to make improvements, and the more eyes, the more likely the improvements are valid and on target. Please visit the new site at the same ol' address:

http://www.rehobothpres.org/

and let me know what you see and don't see!
~Rev. Joel

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Young Adults

I'm not really sure what a "young adult" is anymore. I still feel quite young, and dig out an infield hit just as hard as any 24 year old. But, there is a clear difference between ages and stages of life. Anyway, after Session last month, there is some energy to discuss what kind of ministry should Rehoboth enter in order to best serve the "young adults" of the church...

It's an interesting question, mainly because the "young adults" of Rehoboth are not really of Rehoboth anymore. They have wandered away, either to new church homes, or to no church homes. But, that's what makes this idea so interesting.

Anyway, AJ is spearheading the effort. He is leading small discussion groups who are attempting to imagine what a new young adult ministry looks and feels like for us. Is it worship? Is it fellowship? Is it education? I think the answer so far is yes, maybe. But AJ is looking for lots of input as he attempts to guide our worship committee to a plan with enough details that Session could discuss and approve it. If you have anything, this might be a good place to share.

~ Rev. Joel

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Stewardship

Well, it's that time of year again. I see the Finance committee busily preparing pledge cards, and scheduling Minutes for Mission where we hear about Tithes, Offerings, Time, Talents, Gifts, Resources, etc... in other words... Stewardship. Here's my real question, to anyone out there listening. What is our Christian obligation in Stewardship? Just how big a responsibility is it? How do we filter it down to tangible responses that we can commit to, and keep all year long, if not all life long? I'd love to have any and all comments.
~ Rev. Joel

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Disagreements

I don't like war, as a general rule. I'm opposed to it for several reasons... like "thou shalt not kill," and "love your neighbor as yourself," just to name a few. But I suppose I have always been able to recognize the hypocrite in me that out of one side of my mouth opposes war, and out of the other side of my mouth can almost justify and understand it in some situations.

Now you might think I'm talking about global or regional military conflict. But,...I'm not. I'm talking about the wars of relationships. In relationships, there seems to come these moments when the great immovable object finally has to confront the great and infinite force. A force is not a force without resistance. An immovable object doesn't know its immovable until pushed against. I feel like I'm am witnessing that war sometimes.

As our little church approaches some amazing possibilities, I'm wondering why any object has to be immovable, and why any force has to be infinite. How arrogant of those objects and forces. Why do they have to pretend to be so right, so strong, so perfect, so right, so right, so right! Is there any other option when two people, or two factions, or two political parties, or two countries, or two believers find themselves playing rock/paper/scissors besides balling up fists and pounding them out...1 2 3... I win. YOu lose! HA!

I can choose not to fight. But in some ways, I push along with the force, or I resist along with the object. It seems like taking sides is inevitable, and for some, taking sides is the Gospel. Well, how can I separate for the force and the object the difference between the Gospel taking a side, and that side maybe being both for and against both of them at the same time? It almost as if we have divided the world into some odd columns, and pretended to name this column as right and that column as wrong, and then we debate which items and stances should be in which column. The whole time God and God's word is more concerned with rows, instead of columns, cutting across all of our issues and only seeking to discern who is attempting to find and follow God's will and who isnt'. Even if we get that for a moment, a moment later, its gone, as one column owner claims God's will for it's stuff and God's will against everybody elses stuff.

If I'm making sense to anybody out there, help me out, because I'd love to have a conversation about it.

...click here to read more...

Session

Dearest Elders of Rehoboth,

As I enter the Pastor's Study this morning, I cannot help but feel the hum of the whirlwind in my brain accelerate to break-neck speed. It's been like this for weeks, ever since we said GO to a few key components of God's vision for us. I've tried morning prayers and daily scripture readings, but they are not helping me focus like they usually do, and the winds continue to whirl, to the point that I am staying up later at night and working really hard Sudoku puzzles just to relax. (Friday and Saturday 5 and 6 star... Yes, the harder they are, the more they pull my mind into them, away from the other stuff) I find myself amidst the ideas and visions and concepts begging for someway to feel, to know, I am being faithful to God, and Rehoboth, and my family, and myself all at once... There's a part of me that says out loud, "Let go and Let GOD! Stop worrying or thinking about things that are God's." And yes, that's true. Then there's another part of me that says, "And God put YOU there, in this church, in this time. Now go do what God has prepared you to do and is asking you to do, and stop waiting on God to do it when God is TRYING right now to do it THROUGH YOU!" Both of these answers apply to something as simple as visiting someone, all the way to making the Childcare open.

So, this morning, I just waited a while, in silence. Then, in that space of waiting, I only heard one suggestion... "share it". Now, I'm not sure what all "share" means here. It might mean release some of it to others. It might mean split some of it with others. It might mean let some of it go, and be okay doing only what you can. It might mean just say it out loud to somebody to get it off your chest. I'm not sure. I do seem to scan through the whole of Rehoboth on a regular basis, checking our membership and our discipleship for good health and good direction, and comparing what I see against what I've heard the Session imagine and what I've heard in my own self as God's calling on us. So, here's my attempt to "share" with you the programming/administrative/businessy stuff that's going on inside me, hoping that in sharing it with you, I and we, as God's church together, will find some clarity.

Pastoring

• An endless prayer list... just too personal and too long to list here...
• Scriptures and sermons and music and liturgy for May

Session

• Joint Board is coming, after church, May 20. More of Bible/Scripture and interpretation. Then Session that night.
• Task Force - Architects/Planners are replying. I think 5-6 have come in today, the deadline. But we need more replies. We really need enough to make interivews in the 2-3rd weeks of May, so at May Session we can imagine possibilities and timelines. The idea of a Congregational meeting is excellent. But when? How about the 1st Sunday in June, full lunch, etc...? We could then act at Session the following Sunday, based on the feedback and feel from the congregation. Should Session meet to call that meeting now, so we can communicate and advertise it well enough in advance?
• The bottle-neck of the property at the corner of the gym is still a real problem. How can we negotiate/buy/trade with the Buffington's in order to make some more room for traffic flow all the way around our property?
• Kids@Rehoboth - We really need to select a Director by our May meeting. But resumes are not coming in fast enough. There are a few people interested, and some that are saying they are interested, but have yet to submit anything. Because of this delay, we have not advertised in the local Elementary schools. This means recruiting of students and teachers will be taking place in the summer, which is very late. Plus, we have a TON of remodeling work to do, a playground to install, a fence to put up, and lots of asbestos to remove. I believe a childcare facility is critical to the ministry future at Rehoboth, but are we really going to be able to do it well, and by the fall, without gagging on the effort and expense required?
• Our membership roll is still way off... We officially still have over 300 people on our inactive roll. We need a shorter list of those that have gone inactive in the last 5-10 years or so, and cut the list back to that only. Our active member list still shows 148, but that's not right either. There are still 30-40 people who do not attend, who live out of town, and who have simply chosen not to worship here (or maybe anywhere) since they left. That's their choice, not ours. We should continue to love them, remember them, pray for them, encourage them to find a church home in their area, but at the same time, move them to our inactive roll. It's almost demoralizing to think of ourselves as 150, and then only have 70 in worship. The truth is we are 100 with 70 in worship. But 100 gives us a better measure of what to expect of ourselves, and what we can/cannot really do. Imagine, we have 19 officers in a 100 member church? There are 1000 member churches with fewer officers. Speaking of which...
• Nominating committee... time to roll?
• Volunteer burnout - With only about 100 members, is it liegitimate to ask a small church of 100 carrying a large property like this to imagine so BIG (task force, childcare, etc...)? How do we convince good hearted volunteers to pitch in and help, but not over do it. Otherwise, we'll see a subset of folks (the same folks at every meeting and every event) burnout from exhaustion, giving all they have to the church, just to go home tuckered out wondering if it made any real difference.
• Master Calendar - How can we begin thinking and planning simpler but farther ahead, to help us all communicate and coordinate better?
• Minutes for Mission - We need to get the MFM Calendar full again, showing the good people of Rehoboth how to get involved in the ministry at Rehoboth through their offerings and time.

Education

• Do we have a calendar of who is teaching what and when for all our classes right now, and through the summer?
• Teacher recruitment and appreciation should be approaching?
• VBS?
• I'm realizing that I have yet to be invited to teach any of the Sunday School classes.
• Are we really rotating teachers, or are we leaving the burden of each class on one key individual with a few back ups?
• Special programs for graduating Seniors on May 20, and for rising ___ graders when? Anybody for communicants class this year?

Finance

• If we do need to spend significant monies this year to open the Kids@Rehoboth, and to hire the planner, where will those monies come from?
• I wonder what percentages of our annual incomes come from which age groups in the church... Should we not be planning ahead now for the reduction in incomes due to our aging congregation? How can we encourage people to remember Rehoboth in their wills and estates?
• Quickbooks is getting better all the time, but we still need to get categories, classes, and reporting ironed out so we can get what we need easily.
• Stewardship season is coming

Fellowship

• Besides Family Fun night, what other regular/monthly/quarterly/annual form of all-church Fellowship is there? Could/should we do Snacks after worship once a month on the front patio? Wed night suppers idea, once a month? I'm realizing we don't really fellowship with each other.
• Our Youth group is all graduating up to young adult. Chip and AJ and I need to re-vision it for the fall, with late elementary focus, a middle-high school focus, and a college age-young adults focus.
• Youth mission trip

Missions

• Max wants a list from me of the ministries that "the pastor" thinks Rehoboth should support. I have a list, or could make one easy. But, I want Rehoboth to decide to support things because Rehoboth wants to, not because the Pastor said so.
• Commissioning service and gift for Katherine when, May 27th?
• Stephen Pantry... What happened to our set menu of items that we distribute per person per day? We are still tracking who comes, but do we compare that against who has been recently still? What is our goal for number of meals to distribute per month? Do we consider that the colder months are worse than the warmer months? What's the average cost per meal? So what's the target budget per year? What do we do when we distribute more than our forecast in a month, or if we hit our annual budget by October, like we did last year?
• Annual McWilliams Mission Community Concert this year? When? Who? David Lamotte in the Sanctuary in Summer or Fall?

Operations

• I am SO ready to move the whole sound system out of the back closet and into the little side area in the sanctuary, and to get the CD recorder working, and all the mics and mic stations working, and the last piece of equipment installed. I just need to put on my jeans and "get er done" as Jan would say. But this will take 2-3 solid days.
• The remodeling of Kids@Rehoboth space is a BIG project, from bathrooms to windows to flooring to sheetrock to paint, etc... I can see it. But we need the Director to help us make sure it is not just pretty and clean, but also functional. Then we have to do it fast. Will we hire it out, or do it ourselves, or what?

Outreach

• Recently updated the Website, but the Calendar is still not working as it should. Plus, there's tons of other pages and info we could put up there (Weddings, VBS, etc...)
• Our front sign, even though temporarily placed, should be wired to light up at night, and should not be visibly propped on concrete blocks.
• How do we communicate into the community (newspaper, direct mail, flyers on mailboxes/cars, how?), and what are the costs and contacts for each option?
• The number one reason anyone comes to and/or joins a church is because of a Personal invitation. Is anyone at Rehoboth inviting their friends and family and neighbors to come? If so, where are they? If not, why not?
• Logo selected

Personnel

• Chip and AJ are leaving us for the summer, for CPE and Supervised Ministry. I'd like to hire Claire Butler to fill both their shoes through the summer months, to lead worship, and to Associate Pastor with me. May Session action on this idea? Claire could start Monday May 21.
• Annual reviews needed this Summer of all staff. Legitimate comparisons of what we pay youth director, childcare, administrator, custodian, and pastor, compared with other churches in the area, as well as benefits or other compensations offered.
• Commissioning service for Marla when?

Worship

• Worship liturgies for May is not yet finalized, and May starts tomorrow!
• Evening worship is precious to those that come, but its a totally different crowd then it was when I arrived. Is Evening worship really serving a worship purpose or is it really another Bible Study group?
• Our new Order of Worship has yet to be bulletin-ed or led as intended. Each week, I've missed something, or we've left something out, or had something in the wrong place, or have forgotted to denote sit or stand, or something. This one WILL be back on track starting this Sunday!
• A guide to our worship, what each part means, why we do what we do...

Diaconate

Visitation

• Quartely communion, monthly Messenger, weekly bulletins... thanks Jacki and Jan!
• Good, full list of those that are physically unable to be with us

Visitors/Prospects

• Have to mail letters to everybody that came to the Festival, and to everyone that has visited us in Easter.
• Our member name badges need to go up in the Sanctuary. (AJ?)
• What ever happened to the "Elder Greeter" that we passed? (AJ?)
• Visitor kits are not yet finished (mug, honey, jelly, pen, all in a basket)

Shepherds

• Could we get Shepherds to touch base with every sheep just once a month, to check in and see how they are doing, and to remind them of the coming months events and programs? Don't we need some more Shepherds?

Presbytery

• I've just realized this weekend that somehow I totally overlooked a Presbytery meeting next week, May 8, at Radcliffe Presbyterian, starting at 9:30am. I could have sworn I pulled all 2007 meetings from the website, but yet again, I missed one somehow. If there are any Elders who can go, let me know. I'm moving some stuff around on my schedule to make sure I can go.
• Transformation committee wants a write up on Rehoboth's vision and future
• Partner's Resourcing group - what should we be asking them for out of all these ideas?
• Grants - which of these programs or ideas are grant worthy and will we actually do, unlike the Alzheimers idea?

After rereading my brain dump above, I'm so excited. I'm almost giddy. But, I'm also wondering if I am nuts for sending it out to you all. I guess I am asking for your guidance. "No, Joel, that one's not important. Let that one go." Or, "Yes, Joel, God really is calling us to do that one, and it will work out." Or, "I've got a plan to make that one happen. Leave that one to me." I guess I am attempting to be completely honest, complete transparent with where my mind and heart wander when I feel God's tug on me as Pastor of Rehoboth, yes to the people, and yes to worship, but also to these things. I've heard it said we want a Pastor, not a CEO. Yet, it seems like we have lots of stuff to manage, and I am the default person members expect to lead these programs or improvements. If I am way off base, I need your correction. If I am on target, I just need your support and understanding.

May all our greatest efforts be for God's glory alone, and may we enjoy the journey itself just as much as the destination.

Blessing, Laughter, and Loving be yours,
Rev. Joel L. Tolbert

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