Andy's Blog: A Personal Word

February 2012 Archive

February 14, 2012

Feb. 14, 2012

Thanks to all who said “Amen” on Sunday, to our building debt. As of this morning we have received 182 gifts and commitments of $416,326 – this represents 47% of our outstanding debt of $895,000. We are well on our way. All of us have benefited from the new and renewed facilities over these past years. If you were not here on Sunday, let me encourage you to join those in finishing what we began. You may make a one-time gift or a commitment of one year by contacting Ann Neptune at 879-1737, or by emailing .

Up and coming: 

• Next week we begin the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is on February 22 – with “Come and Go” Communion and Imposition of ashes offered from 7-8 AM in the sanctuary, and a full service at 6:30 PM. Our theme for this Lent is “The Lord’s Prayer.” The Lord’s Prayer has been called the model prayer. It teaches us how to pray.  Bishop Willimon writes that one of the ways we become Christian is learning to pray this prayer and allowing it to shape us. I invite you to a season of prayer and reflection together using the Lord’s Prayer as a model. A bookmark with a daily scripture reading centered around prayer and a guide to prayer will be available for the Lenten season. 

• Our Strategic Planning Committee is hard at work. Over the next couple of weeks, there will be a number of focus groups which will facilitate their work. 

• Our Discovery Weekend for Middle High students will be the weekend of February 24-26.  This is an important time of spiritual growth for our students. Please join in prayer for the students and this weekend.

February 7, 2012

Feb. 7, 2012

In the 1989 Film, “Field of Dreams,” an Iowa corn farmer hears voices that tell him “build it and they will come.” He interprets this as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago Black Sox come. People show up from all over to watch. It is a film about the power of vision – of daring to reach beyond what is.

Through the decades, this church has remained a vital congregation because it has been willing to dream and reach beyond.  Six years ago, we had a vision of ministry beyond what we were then doing –
particularly with children and youth. Our facilities, which once had been ‘state of the art’ and served us well, were tired and worn. We lacked space. It became obvious that we were at another one of those critical junctures where we needed to dream – to discern the vision that God had for us. 

The result of that dream was a new facility for preschool and student ministry, a new music suite, an expanded and refurbished fellowship hall, new bathrooms, and the refurbishment of much of our other space.  We built in faith, and they came. Since this expansion our ministry has seen a 68% percent growth in the number of children, and our student ministry has more than tripled. 

The total cost of this project was $10 million (including interest). It was more than we dreamed we could do. But God had bigger dreams for us. You responded in faithfulness. In six years we have retired all but $900,000 of this debt. Thank you!!!

Now we want to “Say Amen” to the remaining debt. This Sunday we will all have the opportunity to join in finishing what we began, by making a one-time sacrificial gift or a one year commitment. Some 1,200 of you are new and have enjoyed the benefits of this expansion. Others of us have had the privilege of helping a dream come true. All of us can join in saying AMEN to a remarkable success. 

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:21-22

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