As Christ-followers, when we look back at previous months and assess our experiences and activities, we can more easily observe God's handiwork. Case in point, in the month of September the Holy Spirit made it abundantly clear that our congregation is prepared, positioned and poised to maximize God's blessings for both ourselves and our community in the new church year ahead (Sept. '24 - Aug. '25). In the celebration of both a Watchword Service and a Deacon Ordination Service we were able to witness the active work of Christ's Holy Spirit at work in our midst. From the selection of our annual watchwords to the anointing of our new deacons, God showed up and glorified Himself through our worship. There can be no greater blessing than to realize that we are in the presence of God, together, as the body of Christ. And when God moves among us, our only response must be worship (also, let us not forget that the last two Sundays in September gave us the opportunity to sing some of our congregation's favorite hymns. Many of these hymns will be utilized throughout the new church year as we praise and honor the name of Jesus in our church sanctuary each Sunday morning).
Our new church year began with a sense of renewed energy and excitement during our 3rd Annual Watchword Service (a service dedicated to worshiping Jesus as the Word of God). During this service, members selected new watchwords (bible verses) that will serve as lenses through which they can see Christ living and loving through us in the new year. In the same way, God selected, through the hand of Woody Godwin, the church's own watchword for the Sept. '24 - Aug. '25 church year: "And this is my prayer:That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:9,11). I don't know about you, dear friend, but this watchword is spot on as it relates to God's desire for us as a church. We must trust in the love of God in Christ to grow in and through us so that we might produce fruit that benefits our fellowship, our community, and other local and global mission work that promotes the name of Jesus. In many ways, this year's watchword could quite possibly become a church's lifelong watchword, not only for United Baptist but also for every church around the world!
On Sunday, Sept. 22nd, David Lisenby, Joy Randleman and Sara Winter were ordained into the Deacon Ministry here in ourchurch. This high and holy day was marked by the verbal commitments to service by these new deacons, the Acts 6 practice of laying on of hands (by ordained ministers/pastors/deacons), and the presentation of new Bibles. This service gave our congregation the opportunity to pray for our new deacons and seek God's blessing on each of them as they prepare to minister to their respective church families through Holy-Spirit inspired servant-leadership. This Deacon Ordination Service proved once again that God yearns to dwell among His people. Rev. 21:3 (NRSV) says: "See, the home of God isamong mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God..." As each ordained minister and deacon bent low to pray and ask God's blessing upon each deacon candidate, God was actively hearing those prayers along with the prayers from the congregation. Each time a deacon ordination takes place during worship, I am moved by the optical blessings I receive. On Sept. 22nd, I watched with gratitude and joy as deacons, both recent and long-timers offered their support through prayer. I thought about their friendships with one another. And I realized, once again, what a humble blessing it is to be the pastor of this small church with a big heart.
I think it's important to recognize the blessing we received from Phil Wagoner's preaching on Sept. 8th ("Sharing Christ's Love", Rom. 12) and the blessing I received by preaching at First Baptist Church of
Walnut Cove's 133rd Homecoming Sunday Service. We mustn't forget the call to stewardship, either, that the Holy Spirit proclaimed in the pulpit on Sunday, Sept. 29th, highlighting the differences between tithing and offering and how these two practices can yield greater obedience and blessing for our church and its mission to know Jesus and to make Jesus known.
At this point in the article, I feel it necessary to explain the title I chose. As we reminisce and remember all that God did through our Sunday worship services it is apparent to me that God wants us to continue to become the answered prayer of the apostle Paul (our 2024-25 UBC Watchword:
Phil. 1:9,11). What we witnessed through our congregational worship in September embodies the hope of Paul's words in Phil. 1:9,11. Love abounded, didn't it? Fruit was borne in and through the hearts of David, Joy and Sara, wasn't it? God was praised in and through the Holy Spirit of Jesus
Christ, wasn't He? The answer to these three questions is anaffirmative "AMEN" if you ask me! Other appropriate answers might be "Hallelujah!" or "God is good!" And the beauty of God's abounding love for us, in us and through us in September is merely a foretaste of the love that will bear fruit through our discipleship, our worship, our ministry and mission work in the upcoming year.
You and I are, slowly but surely, both now and over thecourse of this new church year, becoming Paul's answered prayer!
Therefore, any time you open your voice to sing, love abounds.
Any time you give to the Blessing Box Coin offering, love abounds.
Any time you offer encouragement to a church member, love abounds.
Any time you seek forgiveness with someone you offended, love abounds.
Any time you contribute your tithes and offerings, love abounds.
Any time you affirm our music ministry, love abounds.
Any time you pray for your pastor, love abounds.
Any time you give your time, talents, treasures and gifts for the use and benefit of Jesus and his Kingdom work through UBC--you guessed it--love abounds.
And that love will produce fruit, fruit that lasts (John15). Our goal is to draw closer to Christ and his will for us in order that love might grow, overflow in and through our worship, into our fellowship
and outside the walls of this church property and into the hearts of the hurting, the lonely, the lost and the estranged. And our love will abound so much in the new year that even someone we'd deem as an enemy will be transformed into a friend. That's the power of God's reconciling, abundant love in Christ Jesus our Lord!
And friends, I plan to live into our 2024-25 watchword alongside you every step of the way. May the seeds of God's love that he calls us to plant find fertile, willing soil in others' hearts, and may the watering of our teaching, preaching, counseling, encouragement and ministry lead us to trust you to grow love here on the corner of 65 and Murray Rd., to the glory of God the Father.
And all God's people said? Amen!
Let love abound and bear fruit in this new church year, dear friends!
Pastor Will
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