Last Sunday’s Order of Worship.Over the last few Sundays I have filled this space with extended quotes from Temporary Shepherds (the handbook for interim times). As we finish up our four-part sermon series, it makes sense to do it one more time! So here are the concluding thoughts from contributor Linda Lea Snyder on the importance of identity work in the interim time:
This task of discovering a new identity can be one of the most exciting components of your interim time as a congregation. It is work inextricably tied to the other developmental tasks, especially the tasks of coming to terms with history and committing to new directions in ministry. Work on the other tasks will also be work on this one. Bit by bit, when you develop an eye for it, you will begin to see the outlines of a new identity that God is giving you for the next chapter of your journey as a community of faith. In that identity you will find your greatest clarity of mission and your fullest joy as a congregation. Knowing yourselves will also help you make a good leadership match with your next pastor.
Today is the conclusion of our four-part sermon series based on this church's mission statement – Caring Christians Joined in Faith. We've dedicated a worship service a week to each one of those words and today we'll talk about “Faith”, in the hope that that word continues to define the character and quality (the identity) of this gathered community.
Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian
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