Dear Church, When I first read Thom Rainer’s blog post on “12 Trends for Post-Quarantine Church,” I admit I got a little excited because at Tyner UMC we already are experiencing four of the trends!
On the downside, other predicted trends include: attendance in worship post-pandemic will drop 20-30% once numbers stabilize; denominations will face a steep decline, stemming from the decline in worship attendance, fewer new churches being started, and church closures or withdrawals; and 9/10 North American congregations self-defining as needing revitalization. This last trend is part of the reason I chose Rethink Church as our first worship series of 2021. If we can start thinking, talking, and praying about ways to confront these trends before the post-quarantine world arrives Tyner UMC will be ahead of game. In Christ, Pastor Cathy
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Dear Church,
Back when I was working toward being a certified lay speaker rather than a pastor, I took an online class on an educational website associated with the United Methodist Church. I fell in love with the name: “Be a Disciple.” The message on January 17 focused on our mission as Christians in general, and as United Methodists specifically, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Carla read the mission Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 28:16-20 and I challenged us to rethink how do we do that. I think it helps immensely to see ourselves as disciples—and that’s why I like the “Be a Disciple” title. Perhaps we could start our days by affirming, “I am a disciple of Christ.” For me, I can claim the roles of wife, mother, pastor, college instructor; however, it helps me to remember each day that I am first and foremost a disciple of Christ. Second, I love what Jeff shared with me as we prepared our messages last week, “In the original language, the Great Commission is really ‘as you are going make disciples’ rather than ‘go make disciples’.” That means we don’t have to set aside a special time to “make disciples” or check it off a list. Instead, as we go about our lives can we intentionally make disciples along the way? This week’s message asks us to look at the unique way we as individuals and as a church can live out our mission in this place and this time. In Christ, Pastor Cathy |
Pastor CathyPastor Cathy has been appointed to Tyner UMC since July 2019; she also is a part-time writing instructor at Bethel University in Mishawaka. Archives
July 2022
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