Today is Election Day,
November 6, 2012. FINALLY! All the campaigning is done, and now it is
time to make some decisions. Some choices are easy - you made up your mind
a long time ago, and now you know who you will choose. Others - it
may be a bit more challenging. But still, you have a choice, and the
choices you make do make a difference.
As a church-goer, there are choices to be made as well. It begins on the weekend. The first choice you make is am I going to go to church? Am I going to set aside an hour of the 168 hours God has given me this week to give thanks and praise to God?” Sorry for the sarcastic tone, but I thought I would put things in perspective and show my bias. Still, you have a choice. Surveys state that over 40 percent of Americans SAY they go to church every week, but the actual numbers of those who attend are closer to 25 percent. We have good intentions, but sometimes the choice to do something else with that hour takes precedence. Should I stay or should I go?
Once you do make the decision to go to church (personally, I believe this is the right choice!), the next questions are which service and what campus? Epiphany has six worship services to choose from every weekend. Factors you may consider in making your choice include: Traditional or contemporary; Far Hills or Austin Campus; Pastor Sara or Pastor Charlie preaching. You may consider all of these options, or you may be a creature of habit and attend the service you always attend. The choice you make may also be determined by your participation in the service as a leader, usher, choir member, etc. More choices! You decide. The choice is yours.
So, once you have decided you are going to church, and have picked the service to attend, you still have decisions to make. Where are you going to park? Will you get there early, or just before the service starts? Will you take extra time to go to Sunday School? Once at church, are you going to greet that person you do not know? Are you going to talk to that person on the other side of the church who you disagree with, and have avoided for months? Are you going to sit in the same pew/seat you always sit in, and scowl if someone has gotten there before you? Are you going to greet those who come and sit nearby? Are you going to participate in worship, sing at the top of your lungs, respond with gusto, or are you going to sit back and observe? When it comes time to pass the peace, will you greet only your friends, or will you go outside your comfort zone and greet the stranger, welcome the visitor, and extend a hand to that so-and-so who doesn't see things your way? When the offering plate comes by, will you support the mission and ministry of the church, or will you let others cover that for now? Will you take the words at the end of the service to heart, and strive to "Go in peace and serve the Lord" in the days to come? Will you look at the list of activities, studies and outreach opportunities available at Epiphany, and consider participating in the mission and ministry in the coming week? So many choices.
In considering all these choices, remember these words of Jesus: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16a). In the waters of baptism, God's choice is made, and God chooses you! You are a child of God, not because of the choices you make, but by the choice God has made. In response to this good news, may the choices we make be our thank you to God for what God has given us. And may we be aware that the choices we make bear witness to others what this good news means to us. The choices we make can open the door for the stranger, the visitor, or the one who is looking to get back to church where a warm welcome is needed. The choices we make can and DO make a difference.
So many choices.
As a church-goer, there are choices to be made as well. It begins on the weekend. The first choice you make is am I going to go to church? Am I going to set aside an hour of the 168 hours God has given me this week to give thanks and praise to God?” Sorry for the sarcastic tone, but I thought I would put things in perspective and show my bias. Still, you have a choice. Surveys state that over 40 percent of Americans SAY they go to church every week, but the actual numbers of those who attend are closer to 25 percent. We have good intentions, but sometimes the choice to do something else with that hour takes precedence. Should I stay or should I go?
Once you do make the decision to go to church (personally, I believe this is the right choice!), the next questions are which service and what campus? Epiphany has six worship services to choose from every weekend. Factors you may consider in making your choice include: Traditional or contemporary; Far Hills or Austin Campus; Pastor Sara or Pastor Charlie preaching. You may consider all of these options, or you may be a creature of habit and attend the service you always attend. The choice you make may also be determined by your participation in the service as a leader, usher, choir member, etc. More choices! You decide. The choice is yours.
So, once you have decided you are going to church, and have picked the service to attend, you still have decisions to make. Where are you going to park? Will you get there early, or just before the service starts? Will you take extra time to go to Sunday School? Once at church, are you going to greet that person you do not know? Are you going to talk to that person on the other side of the church who you disagree with, and have avoided for months? Are you going to sit in the same pew/seat you always sit in, and scowl if someone has gotten there before you? Are you going to greet those who come and sit nearby? Are you going to participate in worship, sing at the top of your lungs, respond with gusto, or are you going to sit back and observe? When it comes time to pass the peace, will you greet only your friends, or will you go outside your comfort zone and greet the stranger, welcome the visitor, and extend a hand to that so-and-so who doesn't see things your way? When the offering plate comes by, will you support the mission and ministry of the church, or will you let others cover that for now? Will you take the words at the end of the service to heart, and strive to "Go in peace and serve the Lord" in the days to come? Will you look at the list of activities, studies and outreach opportunities available at Epiphany, and consider participating in the mission and ministry in the coming week? So many choices.
In considering all these choices, remember these words of Jesus: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16a). In the waters of baptism, God's choice is made, and God chooses you! You are a child of God, not because of the choices you make, but by the choice God has made. In response to this good news, may the choices we make be our thank you to God for what God has given us. And may we be aware that the choices we make bear witness to others what this good news means to us. The choices we make can open the door for the stranger, the visitor, or the one who is looking to get back to church where a warm welcome is needed. The choices we make can and DO make a difference.
So many choices.
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