Have You Bought In Yet?

See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 
- Isaiah 43:19

Hello Emmanuel,

In recent years one of the ministries that the United Methodist Church has pushed for are 'new church starts'.  Locations, leaders and resources have been offered from the Conference level to create new church communities, sometimes in unlikely places.  These churches are started from scratch.  On one hand it is difficult to build momentum from nothing.  On the other hand one isn't tied to any building or set of traditions or historical baggage.

Technically, Emmanuel is in a different setting that is considered 'church renewal'.  This is when an existing church looks at its existing structure and ministries and overhauls it in an attempt to be more effective and relevant for the surrounding community.  On one hand it is difficult to change what a church has been used to doing for years.  On the other hand momentum can be easily gained if the leader and congregation is willing to buy into a renewal process.

Have you bought in?

Many already have.  There are 54 people committed to gathering at the Relive Church Retreat on February 9th at Loveland UMC.  9:00-4:00.  It is an Emmanuel retreat only.  Lunch and child care will be provided.  All content and discussion will revolve specifically around what Emmanuel can do in the future to be more effective and relevant to the community in which we exist.

As your pastor, I am committed to push forward and not look back.  We need to recapture the passion of the Good News of Jesus.  To do so, we need to let God get us excited about what can be (and, with God, all things are possible).  This means we must not spend time looking back.  We need to spend time:

- daydreaming about new ministries that bring new possibilities; think outside the norm
- committing to working together so dreams can be brought to fruition
- be serious about evaluating what works and what doesn't work
- let go of what we think we own and grab onto what God wants us to live into
- stop thinking about what we want and start thinking about what God wants us to do
- connect the needs of others to what God has to provide

Have you bought in?

Those who haven't are in danger of being left out of something new and exciting.  Those who have will be on a new kind of ride that will have ups and downs, but a ride that will lead us into a kind of church that God is asking that we strive to be.

I hope you have bought in.  I also hope you will part of the process.  You are invited to come to the retreat on Feb. 9th.  Let me know.  You can sign up at the church building, on facebook, or call/text me (463-7378), or email me at pastorjoe@emmanuel-umc.com.