Many people are not involved in a Christian community for a multitude of reasons (including lack of belief, tired of hypocritical Christians, have been hurt by a church or a pastor, and so on). This is no different in our little city of Marion, Ohio than it is any place else. I wish I had some kind of magic answer to share with people to show the difference a real Christian community can make in your life but I don’t. I had to find it myself while working through my own issues with my church experiences. I understand the frustration, pain, and challenges many people in this boat feel. However, when I saw the life of the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures, I was convinced there was something more than what I had experienced in my church past. Once I found it, it was worth going through all the beauty and challenges of a real community committed to being real with one another. It is out there. It may be hard to find sometimes but it is out there and worth finding.
In my case, I found it in The Shepherd’s Fellowship, a church several of us started about 5 years ago. Maybe it can be a community for you as well (if not, touch base with us and we’ll help you find another home in the area). I do know it can be tough to try something new so I thought I’d let you know about some upcoming events and some things we are celebrating that may be of interest to you. In the same way, if you have a question or want to talk some, feel free to contact me by going to our church website and go through the staff page.
Rice Bowls – January was our month for “Rice Bowls”, a time of collecting change to give to orphanages in India, Haiti, and South Africa. On the last Sunday of the month, we busted open the Rice Bowls from each family and poured them into a giant kitchen pan! After some help from our bank, the coins and bills were counted and exactly $250 was raised! We have a couple late turn ins as well that we will add to that and send it to, as our daughter understands it, the babies without mommies and daddies. Thank you for everyone’s help!
Food Pantry – Add a new twist to your Valentine’s Day by serving people who need some help! Once a month, we help with a Food Pantry in Kirkpatrick, Ohio and can always use your help. We meet in Marion at 8:30am and convoy the 10 minutes to the Food Pantry. We pack boxes with food as a team and get them into the hands of people from our community. We are always done by about 11:30am or so which will give you plenty of time for any other Valentine plans. If you can’t make it out this Saturday, then still touch base with us. We do this once a month all year long! For more details, contact Jenni Hypes, also through the staff page at our web-site.
We also have another Food Pantry we are currently talking to in Marion that we would love to start helping. We are in the starts of creating a team of people to help them so that might be of interest too. Just let me know!
Valentine’s Dinner – This Sunday, 2/15/09 at 5pm, our church will be having a Spaghetti Valentine’s Dinner at our church. This is a free dinner and all donations and tips for our servers will be going to our Youth Group which has been exploding here of late! After dinner, we will enjoy a short reading and then live music from Keith and Jessica Howard. You can hear a sample of their music on my My Space page. Child care will be provided for this event. If you plan on coming, please RSVP as soon as possible by contact Tom Hypes (yet again) on the staff page of our site.
Kid’s Day at the Mall – Did you know that the Southland Mall is having it’s Kid’s Day again this year on Saturday 2/21/09 from 10am – 5pm? This is a great time for the whole family where they offer entertainment, games and much more! We will also be there with a booth where you can get your kid’s picture with a huge Veggietale standee and then we will put their pics on line so they can view, download, or print their picture at home. We have found that kids LOVE seeing themselves on line and are happy about offering this opportunity again this year! Stop be and say hi!
Gosh, I haven’t even invited you to a Sunday morning Gathering yet, have I? Well, we’d love to have you and no need to RSVP! The next few weeks we are talking about being able to stop just living and move into loving which makes all the difference in our lives and for others. After that, starting in March, we will be exploring what it means to be a real disciple (or follower) of the Jesus of the Bible and exploring His teachings, example, and heart as the Christ.
Other things to know before stopping by a Gathering is while all our welcome, most tend to dress casual. Also, our music is more of the modern style and rather organic (meaning we are not all professionals but enjoy worshiping together). We start about 10am as far as hanging out, drinking coffee, and what not and then we start the music at 10:30am. Also, we are a small church so if you are looking for a big church with a ton of programs and resources for you, we may not be the place. However, if you are the type of person who wants to be part of building something, investing into life with others who care about each other, and put into something special as well as benefit from it, you may want to stop in.
Again, we would love for you to give us a chance. Are we perfect, no. However, it’s the most real people in Christian community I have experienced in my life and hope you may give it a chance. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to touch base with me (Bet you can’t guess how to send me an email)!
Blessings,
Thomas
http://www.theshepherdsfellowship.org
The God of Pulpit
The Passover given to Israel was upgraded and given to all mankind becoming the communion of Christ with His church. His body becoming the unleavened bread and his blood which covers all those who will simply receive his gift which is the new covenant (covering). Exodus 12, Mark 14
God’s covering is designed to prepare his people for action. The action defined and lived out in daily life is God’s love flowing from lives that listen and look for ways to participate in the divine nature (love). It’s a walk of faith for imperfect people whose hearts are changed and have desire to live their new life from the inside out. Romans: 12 1-2 they having received His covering now submit their lives to the author of life and love. In other words they seek to care about the things that matter most. This is their spiritual worship to care the way Jesus cares and to follow His example and daily leading. They want to care thus having all the dullness of superficial life removed to enjoy true fellowship, love, hope, and great joy. The food and drink provided in the new upgraded covenant is available daily to any who would desire to come and partake.
So why this blog is is called the “God of Pulpit”? Because preaching like any ministry should be the result of ministers living life from the inside out. It’s the word of god mixed with the life of the preacher.
If we think sermons will change the world without all of this we deceive ourselves. Pulpits should be a place to let real inner life surface in humility, love, and JOY. Its part of the threads of life God is weaving into our lives and an opportunity to get what is on the inside out to people who need to eat to grow strong and healthy. When people hear and see the message (the preacher) they should line up.
God of pulpit is a name I gave ego eccentrics who truly think their mission is life is to share their golden tongue. They think that somehow having their hearts set upon the Christ doesn’t matter as much as using their gift of monologue. God of pulpit is another form of worldly lust that seeks to exalt itself over its maker. The fallen golden tongues are all around us but thankfully many have seen the error of their ways and have chosen to take back the joy of their salvation and love people. Many preach again but what a difference in the message!
So preachers before you approach that pulpit remember to care about what the people need to see in your life more than in your words. Follow love under the covering of the Savior and give the people real meat.
Not sure how this fits as a comment to the blog instead of a copy/ paste of another blog but thanks for chiming in =)