From the Pastor

Looking Ahead

Among the opportunities I have as the pastor of Peace is to look at the ministry, the community, the congregation and school... and consider where God might be leading. What is He placing before us, putting on our hearts, or encouraging us to do? What resources do we have? What opportunities do we have to carry out the mission of the ministry?

At the May congregational meeting I outlined a few initiatives that God has placed on my heart. Here are some thoughts about those ideas that we discussed:

Communication. The goal in changing how we communicate is to streamline the flow of information. The church and school websites are being updated to include an easier and more user-friendly experience. Calendars, announcements, and articles will be posted to the website so that not as much needs to be sent via email or postal mail. The website is the face of the congregation for the community – many people will check us out online before considering attending worship or enrolling a child in the school. At the same time, printed versions of all the information will need to be provided for those with limited or no web access.

Campus Use and Feel. The environment for the church and school is to be safe, easy to access and navigate, and to encourage a welcome feel for all. Significant resources have been invested in the buildings and their furnishings. The campus is a valuable asset to the ministry. I am forming a team to evaluate the campus features, look for opportunities to make improvements, and consider how all the parts of the campus are utilized. Storage of the wide variety of items that we have is one of the challenges we􏰄ll face. Let me know if you can join the team.

Sunday Worship Experience. With a background in music and a variety of worship styles, I am led to include modern styles of music and liturgical elements in the Sunday worship services. We plan to gather a worship team to add new music – let me know if you are interested in singing or playing an instrument. The richness of music and the liturgy of the church will be continued while including a wider variety. Investing in expanding the audio system is being discussed.

Relational Ministry. The culture of Peace is one of the most encouraging and supportive church groups I􏰄ve ever seen! I hope to continue to expand the community to include more people. Opening Shepherd group opportunities has already happened. Visiting with people is a joy – so let􏰄s meet for a coffee or lunch. When a Shepherd group is gathering, I hope to be able to join in. As we get to know each other, the growing of this community is a natural step in our Mission effort.

God is on the move among this ministry and I􏰄m excited about where He is leading us!