| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"See You In Church"
October 13, 2010
See you in church. It is not as classic as Walter Cronkite's "And that's the
way it is..." or as famous as David Letterman's "Top Ten" lists but it is my
tag line for the weekly column I write for the Norwich Bulletin.
Someone recently asked me if attendance had gone up at church since I
began writing for the newspaper. After a bit of thought I replied,"The
answer is yes and no, but that's not why I write."
Don't get me wrong. I would love to see our church packed with faithful
worshipers every week. If people read the column and decided to join us as
we worship and serve the Lord, I would be ecstatic. I serve a great
congregation filled with loving people and there is always room for more.
Yet from the beginning the weekly column has not been about boosting
attendance at the First Baptist Church or any other place of worship. I write
because I want people to know just how much God cares for them and
wants to be a part of their every day life. I write to remind us all that God
has called us to be partners in his reconciling work in the world.
When I say "see you in church" I am really talking about the big picture.
You see, the church is not a building. It is the people of God. When you and
I meet on the street, we are the church. When we band together to feed the
hungry or work together to share the good news, we are the church.
Think about it: When most people say they are going to church, they are
really saying that they are going to worship. Going to church means you are
gathering with others where you can be a blessing and receive a blessing. I
love the church. If you belong to a church then actively support it. Pray for
the leaders and look for a place to serve.
If you are not part of a worshiping, fellow-shipping community, I would
encourage you to find a place you can call home. We all have our stories of
hurt and disappointment in our encounters with the church but don't let that
rob you of what God wants to bless you with. Find a new church home
that will feed your soul. There is one out there with a space God has
created just for you. Go find it. But don't stop there.
The church community is the stepping off point where you and I go hand
in hand with God into the world with the Good News that God cares. He
has given us the power to transform the world and make it a better place.
That love that we feel inside when we are good with God, needs to be
shared with a hurting world.
So I look forward to seeing you in church, as we work together to bring
God's peace to a troubled world, to bring God's forgiveness to a fallen
world and to bring the light of God's hope to a world in need. We are the
church. Praise God!
God bless. See you in church. Cal
October 13, 2010
See you in church. It is not as classic as Walter Cronkite's "And that's the
way it is..." or as famous as David Letterman's "Top Ten" lists but it is my
tag line for the weekly column I write for the Norwich Bulletin.
Someone recently asked me if attendance had gone up at church since I
began writing for the newspaper. After a bit of thought I replied,"The
answer is yes and no, but that's not why I write."
Don't get me wrong. I would love to see our church packed with faithful
worshipers every week. If people read the column and decided to join us as
we worship and serve the Lord, I would be ecstatic. I serve a great
congregation filled with loving people and there is always room for more.
Yet from the beginning the weekly column has not been about boosting
attendance at the First Baptist Church or any other place of worship. I write
because I want people to know just how much God cares for them and
wants to be a part of their every day life. I write to remind us all that God
has called us to be partners in his reconciling work in the world.
When I say "see you in church" I am really talking about the big picture.
You see, the church is not a building. It is the people of God. When you and
I meet on the street, we are the church. When we band together to feed the
hungry or work together to share the good news, we are the church.
Think about it: When most people say they are going to church, they are
really saying that they are going to worship. Going to church means you are
gathering with others where you can be a blessing and receive a blessing. I
love the church. If you belong to a church then actively support it. Pray for
the leaders and look for a place to serve.
If you are not part of a worshiping, fellow-shipping community, I would
encourage you to find a place you can call home. We all have our stories of
hurt and disappointment in our encounters with the church but don't let that
rob you of what God wants to bless you with. Find a new church home
that will feed your soul. There is one out there with a space God has
created just for you. Go find it. But don't stop there.
The church community is the stepping off point where you and I go hand
in hand with God into the world with the Good News that God cares. He
has given us the power to transform the world and make it a better place.
That love that we feel inside when we are good with God, needs to be
shared with a hurting world.
So I look forward to seeing you in church, as we work together to bring
God's peace to a troubled world, to bring God's forgiveness to a fallen
world and to bring the light of God's hope to a world in need. We are the
church. Praise God!
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |