Being the Church

You may have noticed that at the end of this month our congregation will be a part of two opportunities to join together in Thanksgiving observances.

This first is our Harvest Sunday on November 23, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, when our three morning worship services emphasize the themes of gratitude and sharing. The second is the community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, hosted by four churches in town, including DGFUMC. This service, to be held at St. Paul's United Church of Christ at 7:30 on Tuesday, November 25, will include prayers that represent the many faith traditions of the people who make up our nation.

The idea for an Interfaith Service started when one of the pastors at a late summer clergy gathering asked a question as we talked about repeating an ecumenical Thanksgiving service this year. "Should we make it an Interfaith Service?" he asked. "It's a national holiday, after all, and this way we'd be extending hospitality to our whole community." His question changed our focus, and got us excited about the possibilities.

At our Church Conference last Monday night, Superintendent Richard Wisdom posed a question for us, as a congregation, to keep pondering in the year ahead. "Are we being the Church?" he asked. He explained that sometimes we are busy doing the work of the church, yet forget how important it is to be the people Christ calls us to be in all facets of our life.  But when we are being the Church, we are, in common and important ways, doing the very thing Christ calls us to do - to "make disciples" (Matthew 28: 19), and to "be witnesses" (Acts 1:8).

This Sunday, Jim (a night owl if there ever was one!) will give a message on being Daylight People, based on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. In this scripture is a reminder to keep asking ourselves a simple questions, like - am I staying awake to what really matters?  Am I choosing to live in the "light" of love, faithfulness, and hope that Christ offers? The questions we ask ourselves can make all the difference!