Making Commitments

This week in preparation for the wedding of Grace McBrayer and Kevin Kaufman I’ve been thinking a lot about commitments.  Decision are easy--simple yes,simple no-- but commitments are the kind of decisions that can leave you full of joy or sick to your stomach.  Commitments bind us, obligate us, and challenge us to look beyond ourselves to the person or thing we have made our commitment.  There is a degree of selflessness woven into our understanding of commitment that requires us to get over ourselves and focus on the other.  

Certainly this is true of marriage, but it is also true of our commitment to Jesus Christ.  When we commit our lives to Jesus we are saying “I do;” we become the ‘bride‘ of Christ!  Now we are bond to Jesus and that commitment changes everything.  Last weekend we asked each one of you to consider committing to Jesus Christ through both financial and service commitments to Shiloh.  I’ve been praying for each one of you that you would not do more or less than what God is calling you to do.  I want to thank each and everyone of you who have already made your commitments.  But I also what to give you another opportunity to commit to Jesus and the church-membership.  

Here at Shiloh we don’t require membership.  You certainly can fully participate in the life of Shiloh without being a member, but membership gives you the opportunity to make a commitment to Jesus and God’s vision for Shiloh.  Throughout the month of November we will have a couple of opportunities for you to take membership classes.  On Sunday November 10 at 12:30-3:30 at Shiloh@ Price Hill and Sunday November 17 at 12:30-3:30pm at Delhi  we will be hosting intensive membership classes.  You can attend either session no matter what location you call your church home.  Remember we are one church two locations.  If you are in need of child care please contact Sandy in the church office at 513-451-3600 #101.  Lunch will be provided.    We encourage everyone who is interested in membership to take a membership class, even if you decide not to become a member.  

‘Tis the season for commitments and I am praying for each and everyone of you as you fulfill your commitments to Jesus and to one another.  

On Mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel      

Who Me?

This week I spent some time speaking truth into my children.  Sometimes as a parent I forget the power of my words and their influence in my kids lives.  As I was talking to Christopher aka Topher I began speaking into his ear the vision I believe God has for his life.  “Topher,” I said, “you are going to be a man of God.  Jesus has claimed you as his own.  God has incredible plans for you to change this world for Jesus Christ.”  I continued with my words of encouragement, but what surprised me was Topher’s reaction.  Embarrassed by my praise, Topher turned to me replied, “Who Me?”  “Mom, are you talking about me?”  

There are moments in our lives where we doubt ourselves, moments when we doubt what others say about us, and even moments when we doubt God’s claim on our lives.  We are beloved children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  But sometimes when we hear words of encouragement; when we hear words of praise, we like Topher ask the question “Who Me?”  Who am I?  What does God want with me?  I can’t help but think that is how those first disciples felt as Jesus called them to “Come follow me.”  I can imagine them saying to themselves, “Who Me?”  Yes You!  But not just those first disciples-you!  God is calling you!  God has filled you with an incredible passion and purpose and God wants to see you live it out!  

This week we are focusing on our passions and purpose.  We are going to make commitments to God-both financial commitments and servant commitments.  You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do, but just know the area of ministry you would like to serve in and designate that on your commitment card.  You can also make a financial contribution (pledge) on those cards as well and then bring them to worship with you on Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.  

You are a man of God-you are a woman of God!  God has an incredible purpose for you life!  That purpose is to radically transform this community, city, nation, and world for Jesus Christ!  I can’t wait to see how God uses you and Topher to change the world!  

On mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel 

The Power of One

With every person I encounter through the week, every person who comes to worship on the weekend, every child that races by me in the hallway-I am reminded of the power of one.  One person matters.  One person matters to God.  One person matters to us.  Why?  Jesus believed in the power of one.  In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories about lost things: sheep, coins, and brothers.  In the story about the sheep, Jesus gave the religious people a hypothetical situation, “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue” (Luke 15: 4-7, The Message).  One person matters!  During last week’s Kingdom Investor Meeting, we reclaimed the power of one, realizing that each one of us is called to reach one for Jesus Christ!  We are claiming our Community and the City of Cincinnati for Jesus.  For those of you who missed the Kingdom Investors Meeting, here are some of the highlights:

 

• Price Hill- We are one church two locations!  The Church is growing in Price Hill with over 50 people worshipping on Sunday Mornings and 40 plus at Midweek.  We recently hosted a Harvest Festival and plan on having Trunk-or-Treat on October 30 at 6pm!  Pastor Dorian shared the need for servants in Children’s Ministry and Hospitality.  
• Parking Lot- The Trustees have been working hard to see the Parking Lot project completed before years end.  Destruction started this morning and construction should begin soon.  We are still in need of about $25,000 to complete the project. 
• Care & Connection- I shared our concern for people who have been here a while as well as those new to the church being cared for and staying connected.  Not only do we have plans for a team of people to help in the continued care of our congregation, but also for a follow up system of people coming into the church.
• Communication- Communication is always a work in progress.  We have worked to improve areas of communication and continue to adjust as we hear need throughout the congregation. One major area of focus is the website!   
• Family Ministry- Pastor Brent shared the incredibly exciting movement happening in children’s, student, and college ministry.  

These are just a few of the highlights from our Kingdom Investor’s Meeting!  You may ask, why do we do these kinds of things?  We do them for the one that God is calling us to reach, to serve, and to love.  Next weekend, October 26/27, we will be collecting commitment cards.  This is the time of the year that we make both financial and service commitments to Shiloh so that we can reach the one with God’s love.  I want to challenge you to pray this week, asking God where you are called to serve in this church, community, city, nation, and world.  One life changed for Jesus Christ has the power to change the world!

On mission with you

Pastor Rachel 

Sometimes I Need Some Jesus In My Life

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name....” In 1970, when Bill and Gloria Gaither penned the words to this chorus, they wanted everyone to have a little more Jesus in their lives.  Hopefully in the church we can agree that to be filled with more Jesus is a really good thing, but sometimes we forget that Jesus is a part of the Christian faith-the central part of the Christian faith.  I have to admit I have what scholars would tell you is a “high Christology.”  That means Jesus is really important in how I understand life lived as a Christian.  As an evangelical Christian, I would even talk about having a relationship with Jesus, so you can imagine that I am elated that on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 we will begin reading The New Testament and learn about the life of Jesus and those first Jesus followers.  And I’ve got to tell you, I need some Jesus!  After months of the Old Testament-incredibly beautiful, but at times repetitive-it’s time for a little Jesus!  So if you haven’t started reading yet I want to challenge you to pick up a Bible Reading Plan from the Office or Gathering Space and begin next Wednesday with Matthew 1-4.  

Jesus changed my life!  I can honestly say that when I read about the life of Jesus and the people he encountered it changes my life!  So I want to encourage you if you’ve never read the New Testament or it’s been a while, to pick up your Bibles and begin reading on Wednesday.  Sometimes we just need some Jesus in our lives!  

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel