This week at College Church ...
Friends,
My memories of growing up overseas in a missionary family are filled with memories of church. It seemed to me that there was always something going on at church. Usually it was a church our family had planted or was nurturing, and rarely an evening of the week went by that our family wasn’t worshiping, studying Scripture, having a fellowship, holding prayer meetings, practicing music, dusting pews and more at church. This week is something like at College Church. You will find something going on here every day of the week. This week in particular, we need you to participate actively in some very exciting and important events in the life of the church. Please read on for details.
IMPORTANT PASTORAL SEARCH UPDATE!
First, after several months of interviewing pastoral candidates, your church board is ready to move from Step Six (the interviews) to Steps Seven and Eight in our 10-step process. Step Seven is the nomination of a candidate by the board, followed by a congregational vote (Step Eight).
ThisThursday, April 3, at 7 p.m., the congregation is invited to the University Campus sanctuary where the board will formally present the candidate, and you will have an opportunity to meet him and his family personally. We will plan on spending some time in introductions and some Q&A, and then a reception line and refreshments in the CLC. Your board is very excited about this candidate and is eager to introduce him and his family to the College Church family. I encourage you to come and greet the candidate and let him know how special College Church is. He is very eager to meet you.
Following this time of fellowship, we will have 10 days to think and pray and seek God’s direction in this matter. You have been such a spiritually sensitive congregation, that I have every confidence that you will tune in to the voice of the Spirit and be led of the Lord. Whether you are formally a member or not, if this is your church, please come and please join the Body of Christ in prayer.
On Sunday, April 13, we will have the privilege, as provided by Nazarene polity, of sharing in the expression of what we believe to be the will of God. We hope you will be present for worship. During our service, we will have a time when members will vote on the matter of issuing a call to our potential pastor, as well as voting on local church officers for the new fiscal year which begins May 1. Please don’t miss. We want you to be a part of this exciting process.
The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene allows a candidate up to 15 days to respond to a call extended by a congregation. Often the response comes much sooner than that. During that time, we will continue to pray that the Lord will make His will known to the candidate as well. The response constitutes Step 9 in our process. Step 10 is the arrival of our new pastor.
CONCERT OF PRAYER – APRIL 6-7
Our 24 Hour Concert of Prayer comes at the perfect time as we seek God’s direction and blessing in the next steps of the process. From 8 a.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday, College Church will be praying for each other, for the church, for the pastoral candidate, and for our community. Be sure and sign up, if you haven’t already, to fill a slot in this 24 hour concert of prayer. Call the church office to sign up at 815-933-7729.
REMINDER OF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TO APPROVE CHURCH OFFICER ELECTION BALLOTS
This Wednesday evening, at 8:05 p.m., the Nominating Committee will be presenting the proposed ballots for our upcoming church election. The elections will take place on the same day as the vote for our pastoral candidate, Sunday, April 13. Before then, however, we need to finalize approval of the ballots. All members of College Church, 15 years of age and older, are eligible to participate in the voting process. We encourage you to come and participate Wednesday evening in this brief meeting.
MARRIAGE MAKEOVER WEEKEND
Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, is also Marriage Makeover Weekend at College Church. Be in prayer for the Quanstroms as they lead this important weekend ministry.
Wow! That’s a full week, and it’s all good stuff. I hope to see you around as we walk this journey together. May His richest blessings be yours.
Brian
|
