INSIDE EVERGREEN—September 25, 2024


Follow up from the congregational meeting

(1) Many thanks. I enjoy these gatherings with you. I find it energizing to talk about how God is moving amongst us, and I appreciate your investment in the organic process of discerning God’s wisdom for our unfolding ministry together.

(2) Parking constraints. We noted together that the parking lot fills well before our 10:30 service on Sunday, which is wonderful inasmuch as it means God is bringing folks to worship and fellowship. But it’s also challenging in many ways. And yet, this past Sunday, many of you gave up your space in the parking lot.

  • At 8 minutes before the service started (10:22), there were still 15 spaces.

  • At 7 minutes after the service started (10:37), there were still 5 spaces.

 Thanks for your thoughtfulness! Even with parking, God is moving amongst us to make the life of Jesus visible in all its beauty.

 (3) Stay tuned. The convos about church planting, a second service, a new facility (?), and even parking spaces—are immense. Let’s keep talking, both formally in meetings like last week’s and informally in all the regular connections that form life at Evergreen. In faith we pursue a vision, but we hold our ideas loosely, knowing that God holds our lives securely.

(4) Food for thought and prayer. If you want to go deeper on what it takes for us to be faithful as God grows our numbers, this article by Tim Keller is a modern classic. I think you’ll find it brimming with insight and encouragement.

New Team Member

Rachel Sheffield has begun to work with me as an Executive Assistant. Some of you may know that this is her professional expertise. She is gifted in this work, and I’m thrilled for her to join the team and guide us into more faithful organizational practices.

This week, for example, Rachel is re-drafting my calendar. This has been a much-delayed need for a while, but my time away this summer clarified that now is the time to act! Next week, we’ll pursue a fresh approach to other facets of ministry structure, like email, task management, and process creation.

Periodically, you may get an email from Rachel, especially for scheduling time together. I know that is a shift from how things have run, so thanks for bearing with a little change in the process. I’m not disappearing from availability. To the contrary, I’m seeking to open up more avenues for the ministry God has given us…all of us, as we seek to energize the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world, starting right here at 17th and Nebraska.

Sharing the Load

As I think about our ongoing need for more volunteers—teaching kids, maintaining the building, hosting meals, running the sound system, etc.—I am excited. Service in the name of Jesus is an evidence of God’s work to shape us in the image of Jesus. As God meets our needs for more volunteers, he’s also confirming his commitment to our total transformation!

If you’d like to serve, even if you’re not sure how, please get in touch with Daniel, and he’ll direct you to the appropriate leaders. God is moving amongst us to make the life of Jesus visible in all its beauty.

Last Thing

One impetus for re-jigging my schedule is the need to expand my daily rhythms of pastoral prayer. A couple years ago, I heard Tim Keller (I rarely refer to him, and now I’ve mentioned him twice in a couple of minutes!) acknowledge that, looking back across the decades, he realized that he ought to have dedicated more time to prayer.

When my time in ministry ends, I suspect that I may say the same, but that’s no reason to forego deep investment now. On my computer monitor, I have a pink sticky note that reminds me, “The wheels of all machinery for extending the gospel are moved by prayer.” That’s from the 19th century English bishop J.C. Ryle. If it helps you, even a little, I’d be happy to know.

Yours,

Pastor Christopher