March, 2007 

What Changes? 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Question: How many churchgoers does it take to change a lightbulb?  Answer: Change?  What’s change?☺ This is funny to us, because most of us have a tendency to get set in our ways.  And it seems as if this is even truer in the church, because people tend to take church seriously, and many folks have a lot of sweat equity invested in getting any church to where it is at the present time.  Perhaps you like change.  But research shows that most people don't.  How is the topic of change relevant to Saving Grace?  Because with the addition of land and facilities for ministry, there will be a number of changes around our church.

What Changes? For starters, Saving Grace will be property owners.  This means that we will need to care for the facility and pay for utilities.  But this also means that we will have a place to call our own.  It can be used right away for a variety of purposes: storage, meeting space, offices, new ministries, and more.  And in time, as the Lord provides, we will build new facilities and no longer worship at the Middle School, but will have a place to worship and conduct ministry throughout the week.  We will be able to gather together for fun, fellowship and learning.  And we will have a place out of which to establish a base of operations for reaching the lost and hurting in our community.  What Changes?  Many things change.  We are embarking on a time in our ministry that is ripe with opportunities!  And seizing those opportunities will require change.

What Doesn’t Change?  Getting land and facilities for ministry is very exciting and it is something that we have been waiting for and working toward for a long time.  It provides many opportunities and will usher in lots of changes.  But what doesn’t change with the addition of new land and buildings?  Our ministry calling and purpose doesn’t change!  We are still a community of Christian believers who gather together for the purpose Bringing Christ to Our Neighbors!  We are still a community of faith that gathers together to hear the Word, share the Sacraments and to lift our praises to the Lord.  We are still a community that seeks to nurture close loving relationships with our Lord and with others.  And we are still a people of faith who build everything upon the foundation of prayer and waiting on the Lord.  So yes, 2007 will in many ways be a year of change – but in many ways nothing will change.  Because ultimately, the Lord Himself does not change and His plan and purpose for us, His children, does not change.  May God continue to place His hand of protection and provision upon His people and both calm and empower us as we embrace the changes He has laid before us.   

Your fellow servant,

Pastor Augie