The life of the church, much like the lives of individuals, organizations, and cultures, is subject to the shifting of seasons. But unlike many, our church’s shared seasons of life together rise and fall with the yearly calendar, the liturgical calendar, and the school calendar! In each, the rhythms we submit to shape us for the living of our days.
The growing pile of school supplies in many of our houses and atop the collection bins in the church house remind us that the start of the school year is right around the corner! We align many of our regular activities with the school calendar, and thus are in final preparations for these weekly gatherings to begin. Changes to our facilities and the shifting needs of our congregants press upon us to consider anew: why we gather for regular discipleship, what that looks like, who is involved, when we meet, and how we arrange such decisions to ensure the greatest possibility for meaningful engagement.
Our church staff and a number of our ministry teams, teaching volunteers, and other leaders have been working hard over the summer to consider these questions and what possibilities might emerge! We are excited and hopeful to present these to you this Sunday in our Fall Preview from 9:00-10:15am in Kelly Auditorium. Along with these changes, you’ll hear about new Bible Study and small group options, missions opportunities to serve this fall, churchwide fellowship opportunities, a staff shift, and our renewed efforts for outreach and communications! After a long season of conversations about our building and an impending season of conversations about our sacrificial giving to God during this pivotal time, I for one am thrilled that our dynamic missions and ministries will be the topic of our shared conversation as we begin a new school year.
That said, we all know that our work on buildings and finances continue on, each positioning our beloved community in full measure to do God’s work of love in downtown Winston-Salem for such a time as this! We’ll gather again on Wednesday, August 22 — 5:30pm for a meal, 6:15-7:15pm for our Quarterly Church Conference, all in Kelly Auditorium — to conduct regular church business, to hear from the Special Committee regarding our renovation project, and to vote on the Guaranteed Maximum Price for Phase One. Please make every effort to be part of these two key conversations this week! If you are unable to join us, we will ensure that much of this information will be shared on our website and in regular publications in the coming weeks.
I’m a little biased, but I say with strength of conviction that I am wholly hopeful for and deeply energized about our church and its witness in the world! Each of these parts — each of our parts! — represents pieces of the whole, as says Ephesians: “one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” Whatever the season may be and whatever elements it offers, I remain so very grateful to journey it with you!
Together in the work of Love,
Pastor Emily