Stained Glass concert

Our Praise band, Stained Glass, performed at 7th and 8th Christian Church last night. We'd been invited by Rev. Paul Remick to kick off his 15 weeks as the Sabbatical Interim Minister there, while Jeff Cassiter is on Sabbatical.

This strikes me on two fronts. First, it was such a pleasure to perform with the others in the band outside of Sunday worship. There was a wonderful sense of fellowship coming from this ministry of music we engaged in. And more than that, it felt like the band was one community offering its collective gift to another community of faith.

Secondly, Paul invited us so as to offer us as an example to 7th and 8th that there are dynamic and growing congregations among Disciples churches in our area. I can't help but find this incredibly gratifying. In light of the fact that just three years ago the church was, in my opinion and in the opinion of several of the Interim Ministers who served PCC, clearly facing the possibility of a continuing downward spiral in membership and Worship attendance. When I first came to PCC as a student intern from Christian Thelogical Seminary, the average Worship attendance was 75. However, the next year it went up to 92, 104 the year after that, and now we are averaging approximately 130 in worship.

Of course, we have a long way to go. One of our biggest challenges is to encourage real "discipleship" as opposed to just regular attendance in worship. We need to participate in the life-changing ministry that God has assigned to as as followers of Christ. This will require a continuing willingness to look at who we are and who God wants us to be. This will not be easy. However, I am continually hopeful that this church is not finished yet. I am hopeful that God will guide us and direct us to discern the ministry that we can offer in this time and in this place.

Don

On the Air

This is it! I've finally started a blog. I've been thinking about it for quite some time but have finally done it. Now the question is, "What am I going to do with it?"