April 2008

“Let's Play Ball”

There we were standing in a semi-circle, 12 kids from the block. We met after school in our back yard. We had a great yard, it was a triple sport yard. It was a baseball field in the summer, a football field in the fall and a hockey rink in the winter. Everyone knew where the game was and they came to play.

Evan threw up the bat and David caught it half way up the neck. Mike, the other captain selected because he was the tallest, started the hand over hand with David, until they got to the bat handle base, at which time David declared bottle caps. Mike then had to kick the bat out of his hand. This time, David held on and he was able to make the first pick to make his softball team.

Choosing sides and making decisions to see who gets to choose first was always fairly simple as a child. Even if it wasn't always fair. (I was small so I rarely got to be captain). The rules were pretty clear. The tough part was who was going to supply the bat, the coin or the dice.

Even in the Biblical stories, the casting of lots (colored stones) helped solve the questions. In one of the most famous Bible Stories from Acts Chapter 1, lots were cast to select the next disciple. There was the understanding that after the choice was narrowed down to the two best candidates, God would choose the person He wanted through the casting of lots.

This year at Community we are in the process of assessment. We are asking the question, "How is the Ministry going? What aspects of ministry are effective and what are not?" It should continue to make for lively discussions at meetings and over cups of coffee. Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls adopted a mission statement that says, "We will do whatever it takes to reach lost people and turn them into fully devoted followers of Christ." I like that. That is what assessment is all about, understanding what will be most effective in our tri-county area to reach people for Christ and disciple them.

One exciting tool to help us with that assessment is the Natural Church Development survey. The Executive Board has decided to use this tool to allow the congregation to share what they feel is effective and what is not. Many of you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire to help in the process.
Rev. Mark Stromberg, associate superintendent from the Northwest Conference, will share the findings and the give some recommendations.

The key for us to be effective in all this is to keep our strong witness for Christ in the midst of it all. Paul in Ephesians 4 gave us a code of conduct for the church.

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Make sure this spring and summer to share your ideas about the ministry with those of the Executive board listed below. We need everyone's input as we move forward seeking God's will for Community Covenant Church.
Executive Board – Vaughn Glasener, Bruce Warga, Diane Smieja, Dennis Olson, Phil Gerth, Kevin Ripplinger, and John Young.

Pastor Craig