Messiah family and friends,
Wow, what a week here at Messiah, as you may have already read in the letter from Anne Baunach, we are moving forward with the candidate for Pastor of Faith Formation. If all works out as we have planned, we will be having a congregational meeting after the service on December 12th. Please plan on attending, this is an important meeting and I look forward to seeing you all there.
So, you are asking yourself what that really means for us here at Messiah, the quick answer is change. We as a church are moving forward, and as we continue with the regathering process, we will be needing more volunteers to support programs within our church.
I believe that volunteering and serving others are a significant part of living intentionally. But it can be intimidating. So many reasons not to volunteer. I’m waiting for everything to be ready; I don’t have enough to offer, I fear the unknown, I don’t think I’m needed, the reasons we use not to volunteer, reasons not to step up.
I will call myself out here, for months Messiah has been looking for some help with small maintenance projects here at the church, I didn’t volunteer, I expected that a group of you would step up. I was wrong. I believe that one person responded, (thank you, call me).
Well for me, during all this time, there was a gentle tug on my heart. Was it possible that God might be calling me to do something? How can I be certain it is God calling me, and not one of my own crazy ideas? I walked into Pastor Chucks office a couple weeks ago and offered my services, we talked about what I could do, where I could help. I gave him every reason to say, “no need, we will be fine”, then I would be off the hook, because I offered.
That’s not what happened, Pastor Chuck took me up on my offer, we met again in a week with Pam, and now I am a volunteer staff member. I will be supporting items relating to the facilities maintenance and to be honest anything I can do to help the staff here at Messiah.
I have a feeling that many of you have felt that tug, that desire to help, as we continue to move forward with regathering, I expect we will be asking for volunteers to assist. I hope that you will consider this opportunity and join us. I recently heard that volunteers should be called “activated believers.” I want to be one of those. Volunteering takes determination. Sometimes, it takes work just to get started. But it can also change who we are and how we live—for the better.
1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen
Just FYI this Friday November 26th at 1pm we will be decorating Galli Hall for Christmas, maybe we will see you there.
Faithfully
Charlie Radabaugh
Messiah Council President
