The Messenger - February 24, 2010 Transformations

Pastor's Corner

Tweaks, Techniques, and Transformations

Did you get a chance to read our church's Annual Report? It was distributed at the congregational meeting on February 14, but there are still a few copies available in the narthex. Every Commission Chair contributed to this report, which also included a number of articles from our staff. Each of these articles differed in some ways, but I think you can summarize the whole document with three words: tweaks, techniques, and transformations.

Tweaks are subtle changes that you may not even notice. We changed the opening of worship about 1 year ago to provide more energy and "flow." We changed the candle lighting sequence on Christmas Eve to create a better sense of "mystery" and "awe." And we changed our pew pads to solicit email addresses, so that communication with both members and visitors can be much more rapid and less costly than before. If you read the annual report carefully, you will notice that every single commission in this church has implemented a set of "tweaks" that make God's work flow better through their team.

Techniques are systematic changes that require sustained effort on our part. Have you noticed how well the church building works on most days? That's not automatic for a 55 year old place! The reason our building runs so well is that Eric Langdon has assembled a team of handymen who meet every single week to fix fans, lights, plumbing and other needs. They are always up to something, and their efforts really show. Have you heard about AWANA? That's our weekly ministry to young children in our church. Instead of coming just for choir, young children now show up for Scripture, games, snacks, and singing every week. This program is a great technique for building faith, but it takes a lot of effort from Sue Headley, Emily Anderson, Margaret Campbell, and a set of volunteers. Come to think of it, almost every good technique demands a good team, and there are several good teams at work in our church.

Transformations are outward changes built upon an inner sense of conversion on our part. The most central of these conversions is from doubt to faith in Jesus Christ, but most of us encounter a whole series of conversions as we learn to walk by faith. We trust God with our future, then we trust God with our problems, then we trust God with our effort, then we trust God with our money and our time. The deepest levels of conversion require a hard look at ourselves and a willingness to let God shape us--even break us, now and then--according to His purpose for our lives. But the benefit from these levels of conversion is immense: "rough edges" are removed, old burdens are released, relationships are restored, and a very strong sense of purpose is regained.

Tweaks are often clever, and techniques form the backbone of a church, but transformation is the real reason we are here. Ironically, we cannot really "make" it happen, because conversion is the work of God--and God alone. But we can regularly place ourselves and others in settings where transformation is more likely to occur: small group Bible studies, compelling worship services, spiritual retreats, Christian camps and conferences, meaningful mission trips, and powerful encounters with good books and thoughtful guides. My prayer is that each of you will find at least one place where God converts you in the year to come.

Have a blessed week!

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