But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
~ James 1:22
We all do it. We establish routines that give structure and order to our lives. I’m guessing all of us have morning and evening routines, and probably certain days of the week for shopping for groceries or paying bills. Routines are great for remembering to do our nightly tasks – taking medicine, brushing teeth, washing your face. There’s nothing at all wrong with these routines because you can essentially go through them as if you were on autopilot. But what if these routines hemmed you in or even controlled you? What if your faith life was running on autopilot? You get up and go to church on Sunday because that’s your rhythm and it’s the day of the week to go to church. You make a financial contribution to the church because that’s what you’re supposed to do. You volunteer on this or that committee because that’s what’s expected.
Where’s the energy in that?! Where’s the joy? Where’s the ability for the Holy Spirit to move, change, and transform your life or the lives of those around you?
When we live our faith life in autopilot, we become passive and spiritually lethargic. Our spiritual muscles atrophy. If asked, I’m sure each and every one of us would say that we want to grow in our faith and we want our congregational faith life to grow. If we or others in our congregation are living our faith on auto-pilot, how can we expect to grow as children of God?
However, when we say something like: “I’m going to take my faith life by the horns!” Now, that’s empowering! That’s assertive and purposeful!
We have adopted a theme that will carry us from now until July 2019: “Growing Connections: Building Relationships with God and Neighbor.” Throughout this year, each of our ministry teams will develop specific ways to help us Grow Connections throughout the church. We will do this through clarity in our communication and mission, invitation as we invite people from outside the congregation to join us in doing God’s work, engagement as we actively engage members and visitors alike in the work and relationships within the congregation, and discipling. Discipling may be an unfamiliar word to some of you, but it is the act of growing as a disciple of Jesus.
I invite you to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit throughout this year. Pray for the church regularly. Be part of taking your own spiritual life by the horns and the active, intentional spiritual and relational growth of this congregation.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Epicurious Lutheran 