Memorial's staff gathered months ago to discuss how we might knock on the door of reconciliation among area Churches of Christ and the Workshop. There was complaint from local congregations from the very first workshop and such disdain escalated to the point we felt we had to move forward without them. Time has transcended and personalities have replaced personalities. Too, we have learned from some of our mistakes.
We decided we would see if we could get three area churches to gather with us at Memorial for a Sunday evening Workshop Roundup. If we could find three such churches we would invite their preachers to speak for ten minutes each. Just three congregations weren't a lot...but it was a beginning. We sent out three invitations and quickly found three acceptances. We wondered if more might be interested so we extended the welcome mat to another and found acceptance. So we invited another.
Lord willing tonight on our stage will be representatives from twelve area congregations! We got three a preaching, three a reading, three a praying and three a leading singing. We don't know what to expect. Will three from each of these churches attend....or maybe fifteen....or thirty? Whatever the amount, it will in representation of area congregations who are signaling we have work to do and let's do some of it together.
We are so excited! Tonight is the night! Thank you God!
5 comments:
I could not be any more excited for tonights gathering! This is going to be an awesome experience!
That's cool. I hope you'll take opportunity to blog about it!
Keeping things positive is so important. I think it is amazing that some elders in churches out there still haven't caught 1 Peter 5:1-4
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."
Sounds to me like elders are not to be contentious. You are doing a good thing by being so encouraging.
Wow, nice! The congregation where I grew up was one of "those" that denounced the workshop from the pulpit, but you would still see a bunch of the members there.
Hopefully time has forgotten much of that divisiveness.
Thanks for hosting the event! My wife and I appreciated the worship service, and my son loved the program for 5-year olds. He asked, "When can we come back to that church?" as soon as we left the parking lot. Please let the children's ministry know that Christopher loved it as much as his parents did.
Terry L.
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