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Pastor Leigh Ann’s Monthly Blog

Why do we worship? May 2019

Posted on Apr 29, 2019 in Pastor's Monthly Blog | 0

Why Do We Worship?

Pastor’s Ponderings – May 2019

Worship is not something we instinctively know how to do, but something we must learn every generation. While all generations have differences of experience and perspective, there is continuity in what we crave. We all crave love, acceptance and belonging. Worship provides a space to learn that we are loved, accepted and that we belong to the maker of the universe.

Richard Foster wrote, “Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father. It is kindled within us only when the Spirit of God touches our human spirit.” Many people believe that God is love. Worship is the place where we interact with our loving God, along with other people who are doing the same. Together we ask questions and wonder what it all means.

Worship is not a show we subscribe to on YouTube or turn on through Netflix. Although there is faith- based programing that we can learn about faith from, there is no substitute for participatory faith. In fact, Jesus became human, to come to our world, to show us in person what it means to live a life faithfully. He traveled around his region offering lessons, and health care and prescribing community collaboration. Jesus didn’t phone in a relationship with us or video tape a message for us, but came to us and offered us a chance to interact with him.

Worship is a gathering of people, looking in the same direction, to give thanks to God and grow in understanding. When you come on Sunday morning, in order to get the most out of your worship time, it is valuable to get your heart in the right place. The Jewish people believe Sabbath begins at sundown the evening before. Consider a special prayer Saturday evening asking God to open your heart, and set aside your troubles from the week before. Come on Sunday morning with a fresh spirit, free from distraction (as often as you can).

Arrive at church in time to get the seat you are comfortable in, and say hello to the people you call “friend.” Look for new people or visitors, people who look confused or alone and offer a greeting or to show them where the bathrooms or other places on campus are. Intentionally quiet your spirit and remember the sanctuary is more than a big room, it is a sacred space where we look to see God. The sanctuary is meant to be a holy place. It is a place consecrated for the purpose of meeting and celebrating faith and God. Consider the volume of your voice, the conversations you carry on, how you engage or distract others from centering themselves on God and worship.

Worship is NOT something someone else can do for us, but something we must choose for ourselves. But we don’t worship alone and so we have to trust one another to help us worship in a holy and reverent way. And being holy and reverent doesn’t mean we can’t have fun, but it does mean we have a common goal. Our goal is to meet God and be filled up for the week ahead, giving thanks for all that we have that comes from grace.

Thanks be to God!

Rev. Dr. Leigh Ann Shaw

Didja know? Hansen Family Serving in TJ

Posted on Apr 24, 2019 in Pastor's Monthly Blog | 0

Did you know… The Hansen Family Serving in TJ
• The Hansen family spent April 13 in Tijuana working on a home with International Relief Team?

BUILDING COMMITTEE ALL CHURCH MEETING 4/13/19

Posted on Apr 18, 2019 in Building Task Force, Pastor's Monthly Blog | 0

BUILDING COMMITTEE

ALL CHURCH MEETING, SATURDAY 4/13/19

@ 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall

PURPOSE:

To be transparent and open to ideas and share our current status. Today’s meeting is to update the Congregation and get feedback from the questions during our “table talk”. No decisions will be made today.

On January 6, 2019 the Building Committee met for the first time. During this meeting we agreed to set a timeline, to be a unified voice and transparent. We had to do a presentation to the District office, providing the plans and estimates for construction. We also had to confirm that the original plans for Phase 2 are still valid with the City of Vista. We need to meet with the individual groups (Missions, Evangelism, + 2 Fishes, etc) to get feedback for their needs prior to meeting with the architect. We agreed that we would have our documentation and plans for our funding completed by 7/31/2019. We would then request a Charge Conference for mid-August as well as a final date with the district.

On February 26 the Building Committee met to review the “order” of moving forward. We had to meet with the design team, to move to permanent construction documents with details for plumbing, electrical and design which will need to be decided and then submitted to the City for permitting. Funding options will also need to be considered as well as a site manager.

On March 3 the committee met and we determined that we all understood the plans that have been sketched out. We reviewed the calendar to set up dates to meet with the design team as well as the stakeholders and the congregation in the following areas, music suite, classrooms/nursery, meeting rooms and offices, fellowship hall/outreach groups as well as kitchen and hospitality areas. We decided to bring Mary Scifres on board to assist us with the information sharing and integrating design ideas from our Congregation. It is very important to avoid changes to plans and the equipment used to avoid delays in construction and cost overruns.

We have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday April 14 @ 1:30 p.m. with the Kitchen Consultant. We have already met, in the month of March with the architect, Michael Robinson from MER Architects, Leonard and Maria Knapp from Knapp & Assoc, the structural engineer for the project and Kevin Dominick from DSE Engineering. Mike acts as the hub for the construction process. He coordinates with the subs and ensures that our plans are under current codes. Len designs, with the architect’s concept plans to provide the most economical structural plan. The plans go the cities building and safety dept. to ensure code compliance. Kevin works on the energy components of the building as well as electrical. We have been informed that when Phase 1 was built there were accommodations made to incorporate into phase 2. We are hoping that we will be can present the feedback from the Congregation to the design team for their final plan/presentation by the end of May 2019.

Meeting questions attached here.