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Pastor’s Page--Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Well here we are in August already, and the summer seems like one big blur slipping rapidly away. People have been coming and going, taking advantage of kids’ time out of school and some freedom from the regular routine. Certain faces have been out of sight for awhile but not out of mind (or prayer) by us here at Bethlehem, even though the contact may have been minimal.
Think with me for a moment about that expression out of sight, out of mind. We’ve all used it and know the truth of it: what’s not visible or in front of our faces is easy to forget or dismiss from our attention. It can be so easy to have all the time and attention in the world for our own personal desires, interests, and pursuits but little when it comes to what Jesus said is to be at the center of our lives: love toward God with our whole beings, and love toward others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Letting things slip out of our sight leads to forgetfulness and lack of concern. We all do well to remember and work at avoiding that! What we focus on (and don’t) does matter, for like Jesus said: ‘The eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it’s bad, your whole body is full of darkness’ (Luke 11:34). So the writer of Hebrews encouraged, ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…. Through Jesus, then, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased’ (12:2 & 13:15-16). As baptized, believing and living followers of the crucified and risen Jesus, that is what we are called to keep in our sight and on our minds.
When going through the responses to this past spring’s Congregational Ministry Planning Team survey, it became evident that a number of things people expressed a desire that we do as a congregation are already happening. If you’re at Bethlehem on a daily basis, you’ll see what a heavy “traffic flow” of people and activities we have coming through and going on, but if they’re not in sight they’re not on mind. So, I thought it might be good to share a number of these things not only to create awareness but also to give opportunity for greater involvement on all of our parts. Did you know that …
*skilled hands and caring hearts compel a number of dedicated women to make prayer shawls and quilts which are given to people around the country and world in Christian compassion?.
*Bethlehem is one of the few congregations in Warrensburg to have regular representation and participation in Christian Social Concerns and the Warrensburg Ministerial Association?
*since it began collaborating in the Johnson County CROP Hunger Walk in 2007, Bethlehem consistently has had one of the highest number of participants … and that 25% of the funds raised get donated to The Food Center … and that for years Bethlehem members have transported beans and rice from Sedalia’s CROP-related Festival of Sharing to Warrensburg’s Food Center?
*our community vegetable garden is a vital meeting place where companionship, concerns, Christian witness, and tangible nourishment are shared among church members and neighbors … and that people can see and read about what we’re doing at www.practicingourfaith.org? (Check out our bustling garden and path, look up at those sunflowers, and help when you can!)
*over thirty UCM and local community members helped this spring to begin major work on our nature trail, and that a local youth has taken it on as his Eagle Scout project? (Amble through our patch of woods and help us finish the trail if possible!)
*Pr. Joel sits on the boards of: Johnson County CROP Hunger Walk, Johnson County Emergency Care Coalition, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, and the Community Health Free Clinic?
*we have great opportunities for continued Christian growth and faith formation available in Sunday school, Midweek, and the various Bible studies offered on a regular basis? (They’re not over-attended, so don’t worry about there not being enough space.)
*we’re venturing into new territory with our very first vicar (Adam Onken) this year?
Keep looking, because there are many other things to set your sights and minds on beyond our brief time together in the sanctuary each week; after all, consider that on average Americans watch more than five hours of image media each day! May the Holy Spirit enable us all to see and become more aware that, as one writer put it, Worship is the making of the whole life one act of responsive love to the creative glory of God.
So here’s to blessed giving and grateful receiving, clear seeing and mindful doing!
Yours in Christ our Lord, +Pr. Joel