Getting Prepared
Isaiah 40:3-5 (NLT)
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”
Today’s scripture speaks to preparation.
A year ago, Elizabeth Memorial UMC set out on a focused and deliberate time of discernment and preparation for the future. As we emerged from Covid restrictions we wanted to continue useful practices implemented during Covid, e.g., live streaming of worship. We recognized that the global church has been changed by the pandemic; in- person attendance has significantly declined. Finally, as a largely “Boomer” church, we know that we are not getting any younger and that we needed to grow the church that we love to insure its future.
This effort was rooted in a prayer (see the prayer below) that we say at every worship service, every small group meeting, and at home. A core group of about 15 people led this effort assisted by coach Ellis Conley. The entire congregation was involved and engaged by surveys, congregational meetings, interviews and so on. We allowed ourselves time to dream and kick around ideas without rushing to a decision.
A year later, we are seeing breakthroughs in our church and in the faith journey of people in our congregation. The vision for the future of our church is not totally known but is becoming clearer. The time of preparation is working.
We still have a lot of work to do and the glimpses of the future are not yet a complete picture, but we are well on the way to making a highway for God’s will in our church and in our individual lives.
Prayer: God, please break through and open doors to new hopes, dreams and possibilities for our church and in our lives... and we will surrender and faithfully follow Christ onto the open road adventure of Your new and unknown future. We are listening Lord. May your will be done. Amen.
A year ago, Elizabeth Memorial UMC set out on a focused and deliberate time of discernment and preparation for the future. As we emerged from Covid restrictions we wanted to continue useful practices implemented during Covid, e.g., live streaming of worship. We recognized that the global church has been changed by the pandemic; in- person attendance has significantly declined. Finally, as a largely “Boomer” church, we know that we are not getting any younger and that we needed to grow the church that we love to insure its future.
This effort was rooted in a prayer (see the prayer below) that we say at every worship service, every small group meeting, and at home. A core group of about 15 people led this effort assisted by coach Ellis Conley. The entire congregation was involved and engaged by surveys, congregational meetings, interviews and so on. We allowed ourselves time to dream and kick around ideas without rushing to a decision.
A year later, we are seeing breakthroughs in our church and in the faith journey of people in our congregation. The vision for the future of our church is not totally known but is becoming clearer. The time of preparation is working.
We still have a lot of work to do and the glimpses of the future are not yet a complete picture, but we are well on the way to making a highway for God’s will in our church and in our individual lives.
Prayer: God, please break through and open doors to new hopes, dreams and possibilities for our church and in our lives... and we will surrender and faithfully follow Christ onto the open road adventure of Your new and unknown future. We are listening Lord. May your will be done. Amen.
Cheryl Davis, Elizabeth Memorial UMC, Charleston WV, cdavis4850@yahoo.com, Certified Lay Minister; Lay Leader Midland South/Western District; Chair, Board of Trustees, United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia
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