Pastor Mike’s Meditations

October 2021 

Recently, at a meeting of the Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest, I was invited to give a presentation on church revitalization.  In it, I confessed that Sierra Pres, like all churches, has faced a challenging time during this Covid-impacted season.  Stories shared from the other congregations represented at the meeting told a similar tale.  Churches have faced decreased participation in worship, people who have left as a result of different viewpoints, political conflict, and racial divisions.  

I then inquired about the what evidences of grace they have seen.  I shared that for us at Sierra, worship had remained creative and vibrant in its’ various incarnations.  I talked about how live streaming our services enabled us to maintain a connection with members of our congregation who weren’t comfortable coming for in person worship.  Other praises included sending children and youth to camp, 11 people being baptized, as well as new staff members, caring deacons, and creative community connections.  

We also spent time in confession in terms of the challenges and difficulties each church had faced.  We grieved the loss of staff, members, and friends.  We reflected upon the weariness of conflict, including covid-related divisions, the reality of decision-making fatigue for leaders, and how Satan had been working hard to sow polarization in our congregations.  There was a common feeling that we are  unprepared or under-qualified for ministry in the present complex reality.

Finally, we explored the opportunities in the coming year that each church would like to pray for or prayerfully consider.  For example, I mentioned our upcoming Celtic Christmas Festival, launching new Growth Groups & Men’s and Women’s Ministries, relaunching Mentor Buddy relationships, as well as investing more directly in leadership development.  I also focused on the opportunity we have for outreach and ministry to those who will move into the Cashin’s Field Affordable Housing Complex that is going in across the street in the coming year.  

This prayerful process provided a sense of encouragement for the pastors and elders present.  We then focused on the roots of revitalization reflected in Jesus’ teaching in John 15.  There it is clear through Christ’s call to remain in him, as his word remains in us that we need to deepen our spiritual roots in order to not be uprooted by the challenges facing our churches.  Healthy churches will be led by healthy leaders with healthy church members.  We all have a part to play in seeking to deepen our intimacy and dependency on Christ. 

We also reflected on the need to be rooted in relationship with One Another.  Jesus said, “My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this:  to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” (John 15:12-13).  Only in connection with Christ and one another in the body of Christ will we bear Kingdom fruit in our community.  That will come as we find our missional focus in our own context of missional field.  Jesus encourages us when he says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and It will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8).   As followers of Jesus who seek to glorify God, revitalization will result in bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God in our communities. 

Is revitalization like this easy?  No. We are all well are aware that there are difficulties and challenges that await us, but through our connection to Christ and to one another we can trust that he will bear good fruit through us.  

                 
With you on the journey,

Pastor Mike