“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?” Matthew 21:42
Dear Friends,
I have been thinking about the property and building that God has blessed us with. Some seventy plus years, this congregation had a dream to build a new house for the Lord. The plans were made, donations received, and the building slowly came into fruition. And we, the occupants of this building and property, benefit from their dedication and hard work. When the work was done, the building was commissioned to serve this community for religious purposes.
In the Old Testament we read about how God called the people to build a Tent of Meeting in the wilderness. We read how King David planned to build a house for God, but it was his son, King Solomon who built it according to God’s instructions. Through the Bible we read how that Temple was built and torn down and rebuilt again and again. In the New Testament, our idea of buildings switched to the understanding that Jesus, who had been rejected, became the cornerstone of our faith. So, when we look at our property and buildings, we should not just see brick and mortar, but what it symbolizes: the presence of Jesus Christ and the mission and ministry that we are able to accomplish because of these structures.
In my home church, we had a saying: “It is not the building, it is the people.”
Just like a house is not a home, until people occupy it. So, it is with a church: it is just a building until it is occupied by a faithful group of people who seek to do serve the Lord and to follow God’s will.
So, I have been thinking about the many ways that our grounds and buildings are utilized for God’s glory.
First, it is our gathering place to worship and glorify God. It is a place where we share the Good News of Jesus Christ through prayers, music, songs, and sermons. It is a place where we share with one another the joys and sorrows of life. It is the place that equips us to go out into the world to live according to the Fruit of the Spirit with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, and gentleness.
Second, it is a place where families and children gather to learn. Children are heard around our building almost every day of the week with the children from the Montessori School to our children on Thursday evenings, and Sunday mornings. Sunday nights our youth gather to play, learn, make new friends and to go on adventures together. It is so rewarding to hear their laughter, and joy fill our hallways.
Third, we are a refuge for our community. Each week people come to our doors seeking assistance that they cannot find in our community. Through our Help Fun and generous people, we assist with utilities, rent, bus passes, and gift cards to the local supermarkets. They leave with the knowledge that we care about their well-being. Sometimes they even come to have someone who will listen to them and receive a word of prayer. Our Family Life Center provides a place for self-help groups to meet, and a place for a community to celebrate the special events in their lives.
Fourth, this building is a place of fellowship, where we can meet people from all walks of life, share our experiences, build relationships, learn from one another, and laugh with one another. Through our Fellowship Team, we will be invited to participate in several events for young and old.
Fifth, it is a place where we can go out and do mission to the wider community. Through our support of Blessings in a Backpack, Feed the Hungry, Salvation Army, Community Garden, and the monthly collections of food, and other items, our impact reaches far beyond the walls of this building.
There are probably many more ways that having our building and property has benefited all those who come through our doors. I thank God for the cloud of witnesses who had the vision of how this property and building would serve as the cornerstone of our faith in Jesus Christ all these years. There is a cost involved for sure. Yet I believe the blessings we receive by having this place far outweigh the cost to maintain it. I hope you agree.
May we continue to be good stewards of all that God has gifted to us this day and into the future. Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.
I thank God for you,
Pastor Kathy Nealand
“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.” Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
“ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20
“So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
"Walk by the Spirit . . . led by the Spirit . . . live by the Spirit . . . keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:16, 25
“[Paul Gives Thanks to God] I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.” -1 Corinthians 1:4-5
“Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
As we begin a new season in the church, it is good and right to think about what we mean when we pray “give us this day, our daily bread.” It is all about God’s provision. If we see God as a parent, we know that if we have a need, God will provide exactly what we need. The scripture verse above proves the case. Ask and it will be given to you. Knock and the door will be opened.
All children are precious to God. Psalm 139 speaks to God knowing us before we were born. At our conception we are “children of God.” We belong to God by way of grace. However, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we know that we are children of God (John 1:12). To acknowledge that we are children of God is a sign that our rebirth from above has begun to take place in our lives. It says that we accept the fact that regardless of our age, we need and want to be parented by our heavenly Father.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)
