Happy Blooming Church of the Roses!

“A happy heart makes a face cheerful.”  Proverbs 15:13

         One of the things people look for in a church is a positive happy atmosphere. Going to a church full of dour looking solemn people is not very attractive. I think that is one of the reasons our church is growing. New visitors have been attending worship and deciding to join us in part because they look around and see happiness! With the next new members class we will have 51 new members in the last two and ½ years.

         It makes sense that we are happy because we have so so much to be grateful for, thanks be to God! But happiness is also a choice.

         Groucho Marx once said:

Groucho’s quote reminds me of this passage in Matthew 6:25-27 that encourages us not to worry, (which inspires happiness):

         “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” (NRSV)

There are other reasons besides a happy atmosphere that helps a church grow. Here is a list I shared with our session at our March meeting. YOU can help us accomplish these ten goals:

• 1. MAKE SUNDAY SPECIAL Put creative energy into every worship service. You may only get one chance to connect Christ to a visitor.
• 2.ADD AN EXTRA SERVICE (and maybe even an extra venue)
• The Session and worship committee are considering adding a new worship service on Friday evenings that may attract new members who like to listen to instrumentalists accompany our hymns.
• 3. WORK ON YOUR WELCOME Making new attendees feel at home from the moment they drive into the parking lot will significantly increase the chances of them returning. We need greeters at Bowen Hall doors helping people find their way into our church.
• 4. ENCOURAGE BELONGING AND BELIEVING
• Belonging will often precede believing, and forming friendships is essential. Invite new comers to our activities. Consider starting a small group study.
• 5. INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE Young people need to be purposefully placed into visible leadership roles and given excellent Christian mentoring.
• 6. ENGAGE YOUR COMMUNITY Churches need to place community engagement high on the priority list. One church started: Christians Against Poverty and gave financial advice and aid to those struggling in their local community. In one year that church added 100 members.
• 7. MARKET YOURSELF The best marketing is the kind that comes from positive interactions with the local community. Giving people a reason to enter the church is half the battle. So make the most of Christmas, Easter and any events that give you an excuse to invite people in. Don’t be shy.
• 8.GIVE SUPPORT TO CONGREGATIONAL CARE Churches that grow have been able to develop pastoral support networks that allow everyone in the church to be ministered to without the pastor having to do it all.
• 9. RUN AN EVANGELISTIC COURSE (AND CHURCH)
• Strategically, the church needs to be missionary-minded so that every member knows they have a role in sharing their faith, inviting friends and ensuring that visitors feel at home. Have a constant introductory course such as Alpha or Christianity Explored to teach the basics.
• 10. PRAY Praying for growth. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul says: ‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.’ 
• In our efforts to see church growth, we need to acknowledge we can achieve nothing without God’s blessing, which brings forth the fruit. When churches become inward-looking they forget the power of the gospel and what it feels like to grow. Pray daily for our church to grow so we can meet the spiritual needs of the people in our congregation and community. All of us can pray.

 (List above adapted from: Justin Brierley’s article at: https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2015/January-2015/Ten-ways-to-grow-your-church-in-2015)

        I am so thankful for the willingness of our Church of the Roses leaders to work on these ten things that will help our church have a healthy future. May God continue to bless us and keep us as we carry on in faith. Remember, there are seven Sundays in the Easter season. YOU can help us make each Easter Season Sunday special by worshipping and participating in the future of our church.  Happy Easter Season!    Love,   Pastor Cindy

Jesus changes his #Facebook status to 'Risen' #SarumLPAs #SocialMedia for #Mission & #Ministry

      

The Key to a Healthy Life is Generous Giving!

(Image credit: http://www.balancebydeborahhutton.com.au/may-i-pay-you-a-compliment/)

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” (Maya Angelou)

In this season of thanksgiving I have discovered the fountain of youth! It is not the latest cosmetic wrinkle cream or the latest fad diet. The way to live a long happy life is to give, give, give, with love, love, love.

New research on generosity has been compiled in a book entitled: Why Good Things Happen to Good People, by Stephen Post:

          “The inspiring new research includes a fifty-year study showing that people who are giving during their high school years have better physical and mental health throughout their lives. Other studies show that older people who give live longer than those who don’t. Helping others has been shown to bring health benefits to those with chronic illness, including HIV, multiple sclerosis, and heart problems. And studies show that people of all ages who help others on a regular basis, even in small ways, feel happiest.”

Sarah Bernhardt also knew this when she said, “Life engenders life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”

Our beloved Church of the Roses is here as a sacred avenue to help you show the love of God, engender life, create energy, and give of yourself.

Our stewardship season’s theme this year is: “The Love in the Giving.” Our church needs your pledges to enable our faithful planning for 2015. Our hope is that through giving to our church you will feel God’s love as you share your blessings for the work of God.

At this time in the life of our church our future looks very bright! We have new members, some inactive members returning, our choir is growing, the number of adorable children attending has increased, and most importantly, the way we are providing care for our members and the community is expanding as well. For example, a new Grief Support group is starting November 16^th,at noon and again on Wednesday, November 19^th, at 6:30 p.m. hosted by our Stephen Ministry. These GriefShare Support group sessions will provide education and emotional/spiritual support for those who have suffered a loss. See: www.griefshare.org for more details.

Mother Teresa once said,"It is not how much we give but how much love we put in the giving." The love works both ways. When you give with love, the love comes back to you in various ways. 

Those who give, live longer because we thrive when we help others thrive. Proverbs 11:25 explains the connection between giving and living:

         “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (NIV)

So may you be refreshed this Thanksgiving and through the Advent season by pledging to give generously as you are able. I am so thankful that our God is good and knows what is good for us! Happy Thanks-giving!