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