Elder Update - May 2009

· The Elders have tasked Pastor Herb with setting up two task forces.
The Expansion Task Force will focus on expanding our present facility and will offer other options that they may deem worthy of consideration. Maria Cassaday is the Chair of the Expansion Task Force.
The second Task Force is a Multi-site Task Force. Their role will be to evaluate best practices for launching and sustaining a multi-site church strategy for growth.
As some of you may have heard, Cole Junior High will be undergoing renovations and we may not have use of it after school closes in June 2009. Therefore, the Elders have asked Pastor Herb to locate and secure a site, in the event the church needs a facility in the fall.

· The Management Team has proposed a smaller budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and has taken steps to control costs in this trying time.

· Brad Frost will be leaving to go to seminary in the fall and the church will be posting this IT position, hoping to fill it as soon as possible.

· After the annual meeting, the church will be posting the part time position of Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Assimilation.

· Jodie Schneeberg our office manager is leaving her position, although she will continue to be part of the staff at this time. The Office Manager’s role will not be replaced.

· Robert Messore will be stepping down from the Council Of Elders after the 2009 Annual Meeting

· With much prayer, thought and time the Elders continue to consider how best to prepare the church for growth, care for the staff and care for the congregation during these challenging times.



We continue to thank you for your prayers and support,

In His Name
For The Elders,
Robert Messore

A Place at the Table

I begin this edition of A Place At The Table, with a story told by Fred Sauerbrey.

“Have You Signed Page 35?”

My buddy, Francis, was walking with me as I was delivering my afternoon newspapers in Baltimore. We were having a typical teenage conversation when, out of the blue, Francis said to me, "Fred, you know you are going to go to hell because you are not Catholic." I was both stunned and insulted. In typical teenage fashion, I retorted that he could go to hell. The incident fortunately had no ill effect on our friendship, which has turned out to be life-long.
After becoming a Christ follower, I began sharing my faith with Francis, who continued to be a faithful Catholic. About five years ago, Francis began collapsing. Without warning, he would suddenly fall to the ground. It would happen about every two or three weeks. After much testing and evaluation, the best medical minds in Baltimore could not come up with a diagnosis or cure. As the problem continued, I told Francis he needed a healing from God, and that I would begin praying daily to that end. The problem ceased abruptly, and Francis was ecstatic. I then sent him a copy of "Live to the Limit", the exciting personal testimony of Russell O'Quinn, a famous test pilot who received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. At the end of the compelling story, on page 35, was a salvation prayer that the reader could pray to personally receive Jesus Christ as his or her Savior. There was a place for the reader to sign and date the prayer. The author implored the reader to make a decision for Christ, pray the salvation prayer, then sign and date it in the space provided.
In my next telephone conversation with Francis, I asked him if he had read the story. He replied that he had. Then I asked him if he had prayed the prayer on page 35 and signed it. He replied that he had not. In every subsequent telephone conversation, I would always ask him if he had signed page 35 yet. Over a period of about six months, he would always reply that he had not. Over that same period, he had never suffered another collapse.
Then one night my phone rang. Without identification, the voice on the other end said, "I signed page 35". I recognized the voice as that of Francis. The rest of the conversation was an extended time of rejoicing and praising God.
It is a wonder to see Francis healed from a grave and baffling illness. It is even more wonderful to have Francis as a brother in Christ, and to know that our friendship will continue into eternity with God.

Elders Updates

Herb Frost, our Senior Executive Pastor, has been with us for 6 months now and I would say he has been baptized, (immersed) into the life of Christ Church. The Elders have charged Pastor Herb with forming two teams to address our growth. One team will evaluate the option to expand our present facility and the other team will evaluate the possibility of a multi-site development.

January 30-31st the Elders went on their annual retreat to share their spiritual journey with each other. This is a time when the Elders spend time sharing and praying for each other.

The Elders have reviewed the Membership Class and ways to help people new to Christ Church feel more connected.

The Web site is being redesigned under Pastor Lyle’s supervision and is likely to be up by late spring.

Our Pastoral intern Cheryl Lavornia has implemented the Spiritual Formation classes very effectively. Attendance in the Sunday morning classes continues to grow. Cheryl also helped develop the successful Wednesday Evening Women’s Bible study, Passages. Cheryl has been a significant presence in many areas of ministry at Christ Church.

The Elders continue to review policy and procedures to better enhance ministry life at Christ Church. We regularly assess how to improve our worship services and ministries and particularly are focused on our 10:00 service at Cole Middle School. We believe that Cole offers a unique expression of Christ Church and desire to make the worship experience there the best possible.

With the addition of our Senior Executive Pastor and our Pastoral Intern, the leaders of Christ Church continue to evaluate staffing to better support the growth of our community. We look forward to how God will move us to reach more people with His Love in 2009.

Meditation

March 2009

In the first line of her meditation, Crossing The Threshold, Gunilla Norris writes, “Many times today I will cross over a threshold. I hope I will catch a few of those times.”

In life, we all cross thresholds. Some are physical thresholds that take us from room to room and from the outside to the inside of a home. Even as I write this I can sense the awareness of the analogy rising in you and me. Yes we can cross the threshold from our outer life to our inner life and even from “room” to “room” within us. And yet, will we intentionally take time to reflect on such transitions; to explore the way God is abiding within us; what God may be whispering to us? I can hear the voices rising up at just the thought of taking time to explore these movements. “I don’t have any time.” “My life is too busy.” “He needs me.” “She needs me.” “They need me.”
Perhaps this season of Lent is the time for you to intentionally take the time to cross the threshold from your outer life to the inner life more often. Cross over to the place where you and God call home and experience God’s peace, love and care. Cross over, come in and rest awhile.



Humbly yours,
Robert Messore
For the Elders

Elders Updates

The Elders would like to invite some people from the congregation to have supper with us Thursday November 13th from 5:00-6:30p.m. in the condo. Pizza, salad and soft drinks will be offered. If you would like to come please contact Kate Znoj in the office by Tuesday November 11th

The new Christ Church Condo office space in completed. We hope you had a chance to stop by during the Open House in October. If not stop by some time and meet some of the Staff

Herb Frost our Senior Executive Pastor is settling in Rhode Island. He is moving into his new home on Thursday November 6th. He has been hard at work trying to assimilate the structure of Christ Church and how best to move us forward effectively.

The Shepherding Team continues to evaluate ways to better care for the Christ Church community and others who depend on us. The Furniture Connection continues to bring quality used furniture to families who have the need, volunteers are always welcomed to help. Please contact Dave Reid. The coat drive was very successful, passing out over 500 coats to those in need in Providence.

The Management Team has worked on the Giving Policy for the church and we hope to have it disseminated the week of November 18th
I am sorry to report that sale of the State land is delayed due to issues beyond our control. The Elders will continue to explore ways to expand without the adjoining land being part of the plan. Herb Frost, the Senior Executive Pastor has been charged with establishing 2 teams to help evaluate our next steps. One team will be tasked with evaluating a building expansion project and the other will be to evaluate the possibility of a Multi-site ministry location.

Our new Spiritual Formation program has been launched this fall. Take a look in the new brochure at all that is being offered. We desire to promote your spiritual growth. Take advantage of some of the wonderful ways to continue your journey closer to Him.

The Elders are offering our Quarterly Time of Prayer November 22nd from 4-7p.m. Please come and join with those who desire to intercede for the needs of the world, our nation, our State, our church and our personal needs.

In His Love,
Robert Messore
For the Elders

Meditation on John

A “New” Look At The Cross

In the Fourth Gospel Jesus' death is a free laying down of life for those whom he loves, and in this consummate act of love Jesus offers liberation from the slavery of sin. It is love rather than sin which is the dominant power leading to Jesus' death:

No-one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you serv­ants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father (15: 13-15 NRSV).

The liberation Jesus offers is only possible to those who recognize who Jesus is, and the Father whom he makes known. "The Jews, "who are described in this narrative as those children of Abraham who are slaves to sin (8:34) and children of the devil (8:44), do not recognize Jesus and his word finds no room in them (8:37). The disciples, by contrast, are those in whom Jesus' words abide (15:7), who abide in Jesus' love (15:9, 10) and Jesus' love means they are no longer slaves (15:15). The disciple recognizes the Father in Jesus (14: 10) and is called to live as a son/daugh­ter of this Father by doing the same works as Jesus, the son (14: 12).
In his entire life Jesus was God's gift to the world, given in love for salvation (3: 16). God's love, expressed in Jesus, achieves what Israel's sacrificial system could never achieve, a way of being one with God. No longer does humanity need to do cultic acts to remove the barrier which sin creates between humanity and God. For love of humanity God has crossed the barrier (3: 16). God has come to the world through the incar­nate Son (1: 14). In the Son, those who choose to believe this gift of love have a way of access to the Father (14:6). The way of the Son is utter gift from God, and not a human cultic action. In the Hour, the fullness of this gift of love is revealed as Jesus gives himself over to death as a new Pass­over lamb, whose death creates a new household/Temple of God, and whose blood is the sign of those belonging to this household. In belong­ing to the household of God, the believer is freed from the household of slavery, the dominion of sin. The "doing" now required of the believer is to do as Jesus, the Son, did (13: 15), to love "as I have loved" (15: 12). Liv­ing in a communion of love is the way of manifesting the ongoing pres­ence of God in the world (17:23), the only way of being a free son/daughter of the household/Temple of God (8:35; 14:23).

Introduction To Christianity
J. Radzinger

Elder Updates

The new Christ Church Condo office space is completed. We expect to have the “open house” in September.

There will be an installation service for Herb Frost our Senior Executive Pastor on October 7th ! Please mark your calendars. Howard Burgoyne will be officiating the service along with Lyle.

The Shepherding Team continues to evaluate ways to better care for the Christ Church community and others who depend on us for emergency help. Please pray that we may be able to meet the increased need at this critical time.

The Management Team has worked on many policy issues that help Christ Church to be the most effective and caring community we can be.
They have had no word on the State land sale at this time.

Our new Spiritual Formation program is being launched this fall. Take a look at all that is being offered, in the new brochure. We desire to promote your spiritual growth. Take advantage of some of the wonderful ways to continue your journey closer to Him.

We are forming two Task Forces at this time, one to research ways to move forward with our Multi-site concept and the other to continue to develop and implement the Spiritual Formation plans.

Pastor Lyle will be sharing the Elders revised Mission Statement in September and reinforcing our Core Values.

Our Ministry Fair is September 14th, please take some time to explore some of the opportunities at Christ Church.

October 17 and 18th Christ Church will be hosting the Willow Creek Group Life Conference. You are encouraged to attend this premiere event, where community life will be explored by nationally recognized group life leaders. For more information please call the church office 401 884-8632.


In His Love,
Robert Messore
For the Elders

A Place at The Table

I recently read that community prayer is the Opus Dei, the Work of God. Each week, on a Tuesday evening, Christ Church sets a time aside for our Opus Dei. Like so much of the work of God, this time is woven into the fabric of the ordinary life of our church. People come; offer their time to God, pray for the church, friends and acquaintances, and accept the invitation from Jesus to remember Him by participating in Communion.
In the busyness of life, in a church full of activity, time is set-aside for the Opus Dei, community prayer.
I believe for those that come, they realize how true it is that community prayer helps to recognize God’s work in the church and within their own souls.
I could write of those that come and are healed or those that leave refreshed, or those who come and sense a flickering flame of love for God burns a little brighter, but it’s not just about an individual experience, it really is about caring for the community. This caring isn’t as concrete as some of the other activities of God in our church but we believe it is foundational to the vitality and sustainability of all that is expressed in the numerous ways God’s work is done through our church.
The Elders have also set aside quarterly days of prayer, you may wish to consider coming to the next one November 15th.

A Place at the Table

I read recently: “Prayer is obviously not a routine activity. It is a journey into life, its struggles and its glories. It is sometimes difficult to remember, when the days are dull and schedule is full, that God has known the depths of my emptiness but has healed this broken self regardless…”


Prayer is a journey into life, its struggles and its glories. As I read this, I wondered if we actually approach our prayer time open to celebrating the glories of our life. As I listen to people share their prayer life, it seems to me that most of us approach this time focused on the struggle or as a time for correction. Reading scripture becomes a way for God to point out areas that need improvement or sharing with God the issues in our life that need change, healing or divine intervention. These areas are good as part of our prayer life, but what about the other part, the glory. What about those areas where God has done marvelous things?
When we read Scripture, how often do we see ourselves through the eyes of Jesus; like the eyes that the woman at the well saw, as recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4. What of the eyes of Jesus, as seen by the woman caught in adultery, recorded in John 8? In both these circumstance, society and even the women’s own perception of themselves was less than what The Eyes of Love saw. How often do we approach our encounter with God in light of the loving eyes of Jesus? The Jesus who so loved, that He came and allowed Himself to be crucified, to have our sin laid upon Him so that we might be joined to the Glorious One. How often, and for how long?
If you are not familiar with the passages referenced above, take a moment and read John 4:4-38 and John 8:1-11. Considering John 4, what might the woman at the well have felt as she left her vessel, the symbol of her self-sufficient life, with Jesus? Take some time and imagine her thoughts as she walks back to town. What was foremost on her mind? Let’s look at John 8:1-11. Another woman, whose life was known to be sinful, caught in the very sin. Those that knew the rules knew the consequence prescribed. The Eyes Of Love knew more. Think of the flood of emotions as the woman hears Jesus say, “neither do I condemn you”. What must it have been like for her as she walked away from that encounter? What might she have been thinking? What might she have been feeling?
Tomorrow, when you approach your prayer time, take a moment to reflect on the many glories of the past few days. After your prayer time, write down what came to mind, and what you were feeling. Let this be your gospel reading for the day.

Community News

Executive Pastor Search: As you know the Elders met with the Executive Pastor Search Team earlier this year and received 4 possible candidates. A fifth candidate came to our attention late in the process. The Search Team reviewed the last candidate and forwarded his name to the Elders as another possibility. The Elders have spoken to all the candidates and have had extensive discussions with most. At this time the Elders are praying as to God’s leading.

Available land in E.G. – The sale of the state land has again been delayed. The town and the state are continuing the process. The land will not be available for bid until later this year.

The 2008/2009 budget will be going out the week of May 14th. Please take some time to review it and offer any suggestions or comments you may have either to the Management Team or the Elders.

The Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 7,2008. We will begin with a time of worship and prayer at 6:00p.m. Please plan to attend and join us in celebrating all the God is doing at Christ Church.


The Reveal Survey, the Willow Creek survey that evaluates how a congregation accesses spiritual information, is back and Lyle will give a brief summary at the annual meeting June 7th.

The Leadership Structure chart is on the website. Please review and feel free to email the Elders if you have any questions

Last month we mentioned that Christ Church is part of the Pastors Council of the West Bay Christian Academy. This was noted so that the community of Christ Church would be aware that we are part of a small group of churches that support Christian education.


The Condo building process is scheduled for completion this July. This will offer the staff a new space, and also provide a large meeting room for more small group meetings, possible Adult Education classes and Alpha meetings. Upon completion of the move of our staff into the Condo we will be converting the current office space at the church into additional Children’s Ministry program space.

Elder Updates

At the E.G. Zoning Board meeting, on February 26, 2008 our request for a parking variance for the Condo was approved. Work will begin the first week of April. Praise God!

The Elders are thankful for all those that participated in the recent discussions regarding the church’s 3-5 year plan. The Elders have begun to prioritize the comments and suggestions. We intend to begin to form teams during April and May to address the issues raised.

The Executive Pastor search: the Elders have had 4 phone interviews and 1 interview in person. We hope to finalize the selection before the annual meeting in June.

We continue to await the State sale of the property near the church.


We have not received the results of The Reveal survey as of the date of this entry. We will make the information available to the congregation as soon as we are able to do so.

We hope to have the Leadership Team Structure on the website in April which may help clarify the roles and functions of these teams.

Christ Church is part of the Pastors Council of the West Bay Christian Academy. As such Christ Church participates with other West Bay churches in;

o Advising and counseling the School Board on matters of:
i. Relationships to governmental bodies
ii. Fund raising methods
iii. Expansion ideas and plans
iv. Maintenance and improvements in Spiritual climate of the school
v. Other supportive functions to the school.

As always, the Elders are open to your suggestions and thoughts regarding the ministry here at Christ Church, please feel free to write or call us.

For The Elders
Robert

A Place at the Table

April 2008

As part of our Spiritual Formation program Spiritual Direction is mentioned as one of the components. Some may ask, what is Spiritual Direction?. The concept has change over the centuries and even today there are different styles and training. Yet, at the heart of the matter, Spiritual Direction is active listening.
Unlike psychological therapy where two people are relating to each other, the art of spiritual direction is a place where both the director and the directee are listening to the Trinity, as God is actively engaged in the directee’s life.
Using this passage from the Gospel of John, I would like to ask a few questions as an example of how, in Spiritual Direction, a dialogue could begin.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.

The Gospel of John
Chapter 6
Verses 32-48

Jesus says in this passage, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,”
Do you believe that God has drawn you to Himself?
Do you believe this invitation to come closer is a total act of His graciousness?
Do you believe that God, by His grace, is drawing you closer at this time?
In which ways? Focus on one. Describe to me God’s invitation to you. What is your inner response to this invitation?

This is the point at which the listening becomes more intense and the awareness of God’s desire for us becomes clearer. Our journey may move deeper into His Life in such an encounter.

A Place at the Table

Elder Updates

Please be in prayer for Christ Church’s request for a parking variance for the Condo that will be considered at the E.G. town meeting February 26, 2008. The request for the variance will allow us to have more flexibility for the Condo use.

The Elders are thankful for all those that participated in the recent discussions regarding the church’s 3-5 year plan. The Elders will prioritize the comments and suggestions and begin to form teams to address the issues raised.

The Executive Pastor Search Team recommended 4 candidates to the Elders in November 2007. The Elders have contacted all 4 candidates and have begun nearing the end of the interview process.

Another issue to keep in prayer is the State land sale near the church property. We will submit a bid for 2 parcels of land when invited to do so.

The results of The Reveal survey will be returned to us by early April. We will make the information available to the congregation as soon as we are able to do so.

There will be a Sunday morning class for discerning your spiritual gifts offered during March. If you would like to know more about how God has gifted you, please attend this Spirit led class.

As always, the Elders are open to your suggestions and thoughts regarding the ministry here at Christ Church. Please feel free to write or call us.

For The Elders
Robert

Robert's Meditation

Another Good Samaritan
Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”


In the last sentence Jesus says, your faith has made you well.
The Greek word for "made well" means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.

As we enter into Lent more deeply, I would like us to reflect on this Scripture for a few days. Have you identified areas in which you have asked God for healing or transformation? Have you taken the time to look back and see just how God has been gracious to you? Can you think of ways in which He has kept you from harm, or rescued you from danger? Would you be willing to take a few minutes during this Lenten Season and thank Him specifically for those occasions that come to mind?

A Place at the Table

A Place At the Table January 2008 update

This year, it is my intent to update this site monthly.
There are many wonderful things happening at the church over the next few months and I intend to keep you updated as much as possible.
I will list the items and then give some explanation.
The Reveal survey
The search for the Executive Pastor
The Nomination of new Elders
The Condo update
The land update.

The Reveal survey is a Willow Creek survey that attempts to identify the way those in a church receive their spiritual nourishment. We would like as many people as possible to be involved in this survey, because it will help the leaders of the church assess and respond to how best to grow the church spiritually. You can go online at http://www.revealnow.com/Slsurvey/?church=425 to take the survey. It will take approximately 20 minutes.

The Pastoral Search Team presented 4 candidates to the Elders to interview for the Executive Pastor position of our church. The Elders have begun the process and hope to have someone come to candidate before the summer.

Nominations for new Elders will begin the week of January 21, 2008. The church has a new process and we look forward to who God will bring forward.

The Condo has been slower than we would like in moving forward. At this point the building inspector has put a restriction on the number of people allowed in the Condo at any one time. The number, by code, allowed in any office Condo is 40. The Management Team has decided to ask for a variance at the next available opportunity which is the 4th Tuesday in February.

As far as the land adjacent to Cedar Ave., the State continues to hold off releasing the bid process. We expect this process to begin sometime in late April.

Robert's Meditation

January 2008


We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Colossians 1:3-7
St. Paul


Dear Bothers and Sisters in Christ, this month I would like to parallel Lyle’s sermon given Sunday January 13, 2008. His focus was unity.
In the beginning of this letter to the Colossians, Paul affirms their faith in God and their love for their fellow believers. He also writes of the gospel bearing fruit and growing.
Although written to the church gathered at Colossae, I would like to suggest that we consider these words from Colossians 1:3-7, for us individually.
In the Letter to the Colossians, Paul writes about the supremacy of Christ and the need to be reconciled to Him.
During the Tuesday Evening Service, January 15, 2008 we looked at this scripture in the context of being reconciled to God, others and ourselves.

Reconcile - 1. To reestablish a close relationship.

2. To become compatible or consistent:

This process of reconciliation is an ongoing challenge for most of us. We sometimes loose our focus when things are going well.
So, some questions for your prayer time.
Are you aware of areas you may need to reestablish a closer relationship with God, others or yourself? Please write down the ones that come to mind and bring them to your prayer time.
Are you aware of areas where you need to be more compatible and consistent in your own life? Again, please write them down and bring them to your prayer time.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Elder Minutes

November 2007 postings

· The elders are working to develop a process to communicate a short term (3-5) year plan for our church. Many of the ideas have been discussed informally for a few years. The process is being developed from this year’s Willow Creek Leadership Training Summit. Bill Hybels’ initial presentation was “ A Vision to Die For.” In that talk he outlined a process that resonated with Christ Church leaders. The Elders met on November 3, to discuss how we could adopt a similar process.

In Bill Hybels presentation, he said there are at least two models for developing a vision. One is the Moses model, where the Senior Pastor goes to a quiet place for three days and develops a full and extensive vision for the church. Another model is a team approach. Hybels mentioned that after 40 years in ministry he has come to realize that the team concept is more effective. The team approach is one in which a small group of people gather to create a framework, and various staff, ministry leaders and congregational members contribute to the development. of the “vision.”

· This winter, you will have the opportunity to participate in a church-wide survey entitled Reveal. This anonymous survey, developed by Willow Creek, focuses on spiritual growth and development. It will offer us better understanding of “where we are” spiritually, at Christ Church, and it will help us develop better ways to promote spiritual growth at all levels of maturity.
· The Elders are conducting staff reviews at this time. We have begun with Lyle, Rob and Andrew. These reviews are considered 360* degree reviews since they accumulate information from a number of people that interact with the particular staff person.

· The condo construction project is moving ahead. The team assures me we will be able to occupy the space in February ‘08.

· The church continues to be the hands and heart of Jesus not only to those within Christ Church but well beyond. The Deacons and Elders are visiting those who are sick or hospitalized. Meals are prepared and delivered to family members of those who are hospitalized.

· I would like to invite those of you who have not been to a Tuesday Evening Service to come. Truly, a healing presence fills the Tuesday Evening Service. There are a variety of musical expressions from our regular musicians, Gary Blier, Sarah and Pat Tallarico, Karl Sauerbrey, and John Polce. Lyle, Robert, Ken Bell, and Mike Galdonik offer meditations. Mike Denci, Scott Thurber and Mike Bell also participate.

· Christ Church continues to use space outside the church for ministry. At this time we use Cole and Women & Infants, and this Christmas we will be using the American Legion Hall for our Christmas Dinner, truly a sign of the generosity of the East Greenwich Community.

Meditation from Robert

November 2007

The term “Spiritual Direction” is being used more frequently in the Protestant community. Conversations, a journal by Dallas Willard, Richard Foster and Larry Crabb dedicated an entire quarterly journal to the subject. I would like to help clarify the term “spiritual direction” in this entry.

I John 4:7-12 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

The last month has been one of intense spiritual activity. Being involved in two weekend retreats is exciting and breath taking. To see, on these retreats, the biblical principle expressed in I John4 made visible, God drawing people closer to Himself and others, a true sense of being in the presence of God. Yet, like the summer tan, sometimes the awe, wonder and excitement fade.
I am looking forward to my visit with my spiritual director. Spiritual Direction is not a time when one person instructs another on how to live their spiritual life. My spiritual director will help bring to my awareness what God is doing and has done in my life. This will be a time to savor how God has been present, particularly in ways that I might not have noticed. Spiritual Direction is also the discussion of my spiritual adventure called life.
Spiritual Direction is like someone asking you to share a summer experience to articulate why you so enjoyed your time at the beach or hiking the mountain or visiting friends or family.
By way of example I would like to invite you to write about 1 or 2 activities that have been meaningful to you this past summer. Try to be specific and “paint” a picture of each experience. When writing, don’t be concerned about the grammar or structure, just write.
After you have written down these experiences take them to prayer. Just be with them for awhile. Don’t judge or evaluate the experience or the writing. Place them before you as you pray for a couple of days. After the 3rd day what did you notice about your prayer time when these were before you? What were some of your inner responses?
This is where spiritual direction begins, this is the grist for the mill of spiritual direction; what God has brought to your mind in life and prayer.
You are free to send your response or ask questions.

Peace,
Robert

Elder Updates

The continuation of our Annual Meeting was a wonderful time of fellowship. The Prayer Service prior to the meeting was Spirit led and seemed to set the tone for the meeting. At the meeting, the members approved the By–Law changes recommended by the Elders. The members also affirmed the new Elders and Deacons. The Leadership Teams gave brief reports on their exciting activities.·

+The search team for the Executive Pastor has identified 3-5 candidates out of a number of applicants. The Elders are reviewing the recommendations at this time.
+The Management Team has hired an Office Manager, Jodie Schneeberg. Please take some time and introduce yourself to her. The Management Team is also interviewing candidates for the Receptionist position.
+The church will be given an opportunity to bid on the land at the corner of Cedar Ave this month, October.
+Plans are being considered for addressing the overflow at the 10:00a.m. service.· The church received over 30 new members in September.
+There are a number of people interested in becoming members and there is a New Members Class being scheduled for November.

A Meditation from Robert

Come To The Table

Revelation 2 (The Message)
To Ephesus
Write this to Ephesus, to the Angel of the church. The One with Seven Stars in his right-fist grip, striding through the golden seven-lights' circle, speaks:"I see what you've done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can't stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out.
"But you walked away from your first love—why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen?
"Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.”

From September 16-29, 2007 the Christ Church focused on the theme of repentance using the letters to the churches in the book of Revelation as a reference. The Elders asked Diane Coggan to develop a way in which the church could be invited to reflect on the theme. With the help of Don Zeyl and Jeff Olson this team offered a devotional, written by Don Zeyl, as a means of prayerfully considering repentance in their own lives. On Saturday, September 29th the church gathered to prayerfully look back on God’s activity during the this week of prayer. As I was sitting there during the prayer service Saturday evening another Scripture came to mind, Hebrews 12:26-28
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”
I smiled as I thought how this focus of repentance brought me to an image of myself that I do not usually have, one of me kicking and screaming as God shakes my little world. I would like to think that I would willingly and courageously follow God. I would like to think that when my world is shaken I calmly express some valiant statement like, “It doesn’t matter what happens to me, I trust God.” Instead, when my world was shaken I felt like the young man in Mark’s Gospel who was with Jesus in Gethsemane. This person when someone from the crowd tried to seize him, and arrest him along with Jesus, he ran away naked.
I thank God that Jesus came and called me back to Himself during that week and had me rest my head on His breast, once again.
Although my world may be shaken again, I have a renewed faithfulness in Jesus' love for me. It is because He loves me that He will always invite me back to Himself. This invitation is the true meaning of repentance.