Believe it our not – its already September! The weather may not let you forget – but time sure seems to be flying this year. School has already been in session for 2 or more weeks (depending on your district).
The question I always have after a very busy summer time is often: Now what?? Where do we go from here?
Margaret Manning of the Tellico Village Community Church compares penguins to the church of Jesus Christ. Many of you probably saw the highly successful documentary movie, The March of the Penguins. It was filmed in Antarctica and tells the amazing story of the Emperor penguin. According to the film, the female Emperor penguin gestates only one egg per year. They do not build a nest for that egg, but rather incubate it in the folds of their skin. For some reason, the Emperor penguin lays its single egg during the coldest time of the year, when temperatures drop to as low as -80 degrees F and in winds that reach velocities of up to 112 miles per hour. Once the female produces the egg, she gives this egg to the male to protect and preserve until she returns from gathering food in the warmer waters of the sea. She will be gone for nine weeks. It is in the face of this kind of adversity, that the male penguins are entrusted to preserve this egg and must incubate and nurture this little life in the folds of their skin. They are unable to eat during this whole period and lose almost half of their body weight. In order to preserve this egg, and maintain their own body heat, the male emperors don’t try to fend for themselves. They huddle together in tight bunches for warmth and protection against the bitter winds and sub-zero temperatures.
The entire flock moves as one, huddles as one, stays together as one unit in order to preserve these eggs. They strive together for one goal – to stay warm in order to produce offspring; and the bitter and brutal winter of Antarctica will not deter them from their goal.
This singleness of purpose and cooperative spirit, says Margaret Manning, are a model for the people of God. We have been given a task and we accomplish that task by banding together as one body – Christ’s body.
We as a congregation – and as the body of Christ – need to be unified in our ministry. We have many worthwhile ministries in our congregation. We do many good things in our community and in the church to minister to many needs. What we are looking for as we begin turning our focus to Charge Conference, Nominations, and goal setting for 2011 (yes, its already time for that); is a singleness of purpose that will allow us to be focused in our ministry. That one goal for which our resources, our time, our talents, our stewardship – our purpose may be directed.
Our Mission Statement says: Traditional in Worship. Contemporary in Thought. Embracing in Fellowship.
That is a worthy goal and mission. As we move towards Charge Conference; we will seek to enlist persons to lead our church as we seek to achieve this goal. We will conduct a stewardship program looking to see what financial resources can be brought to bear in bringing this ministry to life. We will set goals and dream dreams. And it all comes back to focus. Will we learn from the penguin and become a body focused and unified for the good of the whole or will we allow differences of opinion to spread us out and weaken our ability to accomplish what God intends? Will we stay focused even in the face of adversity? Will we support each other, care for each other, and nurture each other?
It is my prayer that we will at least be as committed as a bunch of penguins in the most inhospitable place on earth -- that we will be more concerned about reaching persons for Jesus Christ than anything else.
And if you need encouragement and have been away from the church family – come home. There is always a place for you in the family of God. Come home. Join with us. Like our children let’s get a new start and begin again. I will look to see YOU in worship next Sunday!!!
Nathaniel
