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Dear Joy,
I am writing this on the evening of the third day of VBS. It’s been a busy week. Every day I am in charge of getting over 160 video clips of the children and volunteers and creating a daily recap. I have it down to a science. Film the clips, load them into the video editing software, AND THEN pick the perfect VBS song to go with the clips. I always try to pick the fastest and most upbeat song. I do this to mimic the energy of the day. But today I tried another one. A slower song. We’ve all sung it before. How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin. Something happened to the video when I paired the clips with this song. I guess the best way to say it is, that the VBS daily recap video became holy. Holy because every time they sang the refrain, “How great is our God?”, right before my eyes was the answer to that question. I could see how great our God is in the faces, the smiles, the laughter, the singing, and the dance moves of every student and volunteer here. Even pastors need a reminder of how great God is once in a while.
And as I reflect on the past year, I am reminded of how great God is. God makes God’s greatness visible in my staff, who pours their hearts, minds, and strength into serving the congregation; crafting and implementing opportunities for lives to be changed.
And now the reminders during the past 365 days flood my mind. God was visible…
THROUGH YOU! COVID was hard on congregations. But God’s greatness became apparent as the Spirit continued to inspire you to show up on Sunday in person and on the live-stream. And you continued to be generous towards Joy!, even increasing your generosity when asked.
THROUGH NEW MEMBERS AND ATTENDERS! God was visible through the people who showed up this past year. New people! People from the LGBTQIA+ community who felt welcomed here. But it was not just people from the LGBTQIA+ community that arrived. Families came because they wanted to raise their children in a welcoming and affirming church!
THROUGH THE GRIT AND DETERMINATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS! Laura Kline, our Worship and Care Pastor’s report, highlights the number of trained volunteers who keep Sunday mornings happening. And even though we could use MORE tech volunteers, here we are two years into live-streaming and we have not missed a Sunday yet!
THROUGH YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE UNDER-RESOURCED! When you read Jenelle Roush, Relational Ministries Director’s report, it will amaze you at the number of items collected and the number of people who volunteered for Joy! Serve. And you will also see how Small Groups continue to be the heartbeat of Joy!
THROUGH THE COMMITMENT JOY HAS TO CHILDREN! The report from Cheryl O’Neill, Director of Children and Family Ministry will show the number of ways we continued to reach out and engage families who were not ready to return in person. AND GOD IS GOOD! Read her report to see how many baptisms and first communions happened!
THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU! Hard to believe our “new” Youth Director has been here two years already. But in that time, Nick has continued the tradition of creating a space where youth feel safe and that they can be themself. And because of this, they feel comfortable inviting friends.
Sing with me...How great is our God!
8 1/2 years later and I am still proud and humbled to be one of your two pastors!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Mark
I am writing this on the evening of the third day of VBS. It’s been a busy week. Every day I am in charge of getting over 160 video clips of the children and volunteers and creating a daily recap. I have it down to a science. Film the clips, load them into the video editing software, AND THEN pick the perfect VBS song to go with the clips. I always try to pick the fastest and most upbeat song. I do this to mimic the energy of the day. But today I tried another one. A slower song. We’ve all sung it before. How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin. Something happened to the video when I paired the clips with this song. I guess the best way to say it is, that the VBS daily recap video became holy. Holy because every time they sang the refrain, “How great is our God?”, right before my eyes was the answer to that question. I could see how great our God is in the faces, the smiles, the laughter, the singing, and the dance moves of every student and volunteer here. Even pastors need a reminder of how great God is once in a while.
And as I reflect on the past year, I am reminded of how great God is. God makes God’s greatness visible in my staff, who pours their hearts, minds, and strength into serving the congregation; crafting and implementing opportunities for lives to be changed.
And now the reminders during the past 365 days flood my mind. God was visible…
THROUGH YOU! COVID was hard on congregations. But God’s greatness became apparent as the Spirit continued to inspire you to show up on Sunday in person and on the live-stream. And you continued to be generous towards Joy!, even increasing your generosity when asked.
THROUGH NEW MEMBERS AND ATTENDERS! God was visible through the people who showed up this past year. New people! People from the LGBTQIA+ community who felt welcomed here. But it was not just people from the LGBTQIA+ community that arrived. Families came because they wanted to raise their children in a welcoming and affirming church!
THROUGH THE GRIT AND DETERMINATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS! Laura Kline, our Worship and Care Pastor’s report, highlights the number of trained volunteers who keep Sunday mornings happening. And even though we could use MORE tech volunteers, here we are two years into live-streaming and we have not missed a Sunday yet!
THROUGH YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE UNDER-RESOURCED! When you read Jenelle Roush, Relational Ministries Director’s report, it will amaze you at the number of items collected and the number of people who volunteered for Joy! Serve. And you will also see how Small Groups continue to be the heartbeat of Joy!
THROUGH THE COMMITMENT JOY HAS TO CHILDREN! The report from Cheryl O’Neill, Director of Children and Family Ministry will show the number of ways we continued to reach out and engage families who were not ready to return in person. AND GOD IS GOOD! Read her report to see how many baptisms and first communions happened!
THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU! Hard to believe our “new” Youth Director has been here two years already. But in that time, Nick has continued the tradition of creating a space where youth feel safe and that they can be themself. And because of this, they feel comfortable inviting friends.
Sing with me...How great is our God!
8 1/2 years later and I am still proud and humbled to be one of your two pastors!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Mark
