Hello, Church!

As we continue to look to the future with a sense of urgency, but not anxiety, we’ve made the decision over the last 2.5 years to double down on the theme of being on a journey together with Jesus. That’s our mission as a church – to provide for everyone who seeks it, a way to follow Jesus together daily in life. For that journey with Jesus to go well, we as a church need to commit to employ three tools: 1) To rely on the scriptures as the authoritative narrative that gives vibrancy to our spiritual life. 2) To practice peacemaking by committing to compassionate candor – caring deeply for one another and lovingly challenging one another. 3) To serve our neighbors near and far with generosity in the Way of Jesus.

What does it mean for us to, “rely on the scriptures…”? The Statement of Shared Convictions of Global Anabaptists says, “As a faith community, we accept the Bible as our authority for faith and life, interpreting it together under Holy Spirit guidance, in the light of Jesus Christ to discern God’s will for our obedience.” Relying on scripture means welcoming the Bible’s story as the taproot of our story. It means we interpret the story together, guided by the Holy Spirit. It means seeking and discerning the Way of Jesus in our interpretive work, accepting no other foundation than the one which has already been laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3.11).

For us, it means that our worship and identity is to be shaped by the story of scripture. It means that our care for one another and mutual belonging together is nestled in the story of God as told in scripture. It means that our missional purpose is found in the commission of scripture to be God’s instrument of healing and hope in a broken and beautiful world.

The journey together with Jesus, toward Jesus, and through Jesus, is not possible if we do not begin with, remain in, and grow through the library of books that points us toward Jesus – the Bible. In our worship, in our formation, in our missional endeavors, may we at Blooming Glen be renown for being a Biblical people. May we be informed by, inspired through, and shaped from the stories of God at work through Jesus to redeem the world by means of His love and grace.

Let’s go, church (and rely on the scriptures for our identity, our belonging, and our purpose)

Pastor Jeff

jeff@bgmc.net

P.S. Come join us Mondays at the A&N Diner (7:30am-8:45am), and Fridays at the Broad Street Grind (3:30pm-4:45pm) to talk about whatever is on your mind. I’d love to hear your story of how the scriptures form your faith, life, and witness.

Dear Church,

No two churches are alike. The cultures of congregations are diverse and unique.

At Los Angeles Faith Chapel this last weekend, I saw that with fresh insight. Here is a church with three clear priorities: First, to praise God for who God is, not for how we are doing. Second, to minister with people who are at the margins: the homeless, the widow, the orphan, the undocumented, the addicted. At every turn, Faith Chapel offers a spiritual word, and a hot meal. Faith Chapel prays with those in pain and walks with them through the hard steps of recovery. It may be a small congregation by more privileged measurements. It may be better to think of Los Angeles Faith Chapel not a church growth project, but as a missionary outpost of healing and hope. The music is loud, the energy is chaotic, but the point is clear: everyone who comes through the front doors need the healing and hope of Jesus, and so, somehow, this small congregation with no budget, no salaries, no resources apart from the spiritual equivalents of bailing wire, duct tape, and chewing gum, go out every Sunday and joyfully proclaim that Christ is Lord.

The third thing they do at Faith Chapel is raise up leaders. As our 3+ hour long worship service unpacked, I began to think back. In nearly thirty years of ministry, Los Angeles Faith Chapel has recruited, equipped, deployed, and supported over 40 men and women in Christian ministry. Some are Mennonite. Some are not. Some are back in Africa. Some are in Los Angeles. Some are taking deeper training at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Some are barely literate. All heard God’s call.

To praise God with exuberance. To minister healing and hope with those at the margins. To raise up leaders from the margins for the margins. That’s an amazing call God has asked this resource poor congregation to dive into.

What is the amazing call God has for Blooming Glen Mennonite Church? What is the unique and simple invitation God is giving us? Upper Bucks County is growing. Blooming Glen Mennonite Church is snug between the gentrifying communities of Perkasie and Dublin. As we reach the ripe old age of 275 years, are we being invited by God to a new thing in a new world?

We have the financial, facility, and yes, the human capital, to meet God’s new invitation – to be the Church Together. To worship in a manner that discovers anew the union of our story to God’s story. To love one another enough to care deeply for each other as we walk with Christ and challenge each other directly to follow Christ. To serve our neighbors near and far with generosity in the name of Christ. God’s unique calling to Blooming Glen isn’t for us to be transformed. God’s calling is for us who are transformed to share it with others

Our journey together with Jesus is to learn to rely on the scriptures as our story, to practice peace through compassionate candor, and to be increasingly generous with our neighbors.

Let’s go, church - live into God’s amazing calling!

Pastor Jeff

jeff@bgmc.net

P.S. | I’m preaching this Sunday, October 20, at Deep Run West Mennonite Church. Jenny Fujita is preaching at Blooming Glen! I’m at the Broad Street Grind, Fridays, 3:30-4:45pm, and at the A&N Diner on Mondays at 7:30-8:45am. I come to those places to listen to you, and whatever is on your heart, mind, and soul.