This week’s check-in falls into the “church update” category. There are a number of things that I want to make you aware of as we begin the transition from spring to summer over the next couple of weeks.
1. Over the past few months the elders and I have been taking some time at our monthly meetings to talk about our facility. As I have mentioned before, a few months ago we invited some of our ministry leaders to an evening at the church where we discussed our ministry needs and what building and property projects could help us meet those needs. It was quite a list!
We then asked the group to give us their thoughts as to what priority should be placed on the different projects. From there the elders have been working through the list. Some of the projects from the original list have been modified, some have been combined and a few (not many, but a few) are not going to be pursued (at least at this time).
Some of these projects were considered so important that we’ve already done them. These projects include purchasing a new shed, building an enclosure around the heating oil tank, fixing up the lobby, replacing the ceiling fans, changing overhead lights to LED ones and repainting the lobby. There are other projects that we feel we can do within the next two years to best maximize our current space to both effectively minister to the folks who worship at the Bridge and reach others for Christ. Funding is in place for those projects.
However, we do feel like some of our ministry needs can only be met with a larger building project. The “Who, What, When, Where, and How” of that project is to be determined, but I wanted to be transparent with you regarding the direction that we feel like God is leading us. Over the summer we will be having a congregational update meeting to talk more about what projects we are considering and what the future may hold for our building.
2. As we talked about our ministry spaces, one space that was brought up by a number of people was the church library. Church libraries were once a staple of church life, but more and more churches are moving away from them because of a lack of use. The same is true at the Bridge…some of the books have not been checked out for well over 10 years. The elders have decided that we are going to significantly downsize the materials in the library so that we can better use that space.
So, during the month of June (just in time for summer reading), if there are books in the library that you would like to add to your home library, please pick them out. Perhaps you can make a donation to the VBS mission project this year for them, but to be clear, we are not holding a “book sale.” Donations are not required. After June, the remaining books and videos will be donated locally. The library will then become much needed storage space, primarily for the worship and tech ministries.
3. You may have noticed that the majority of the furniture has been moved out of what was the nursing mother’s room. This was another space that had largely gone unused over the past number of years. The crib, for example, no longer met industry standards. We have donated the crib and changing table to a local Amish family and moved one of the rocking chairs down to the nursery (which needed a second one). Plans for that space moving forward will be determined. Sorry that I didn’t get a chance to tell you this ahead of time, we simply found a home for the furniture far faster than I expected.
4. Last update – at our last meeting the elders decided (at my suggestion) to take a break from Sunday School for July and August this year. There are several reasons why I made this suggestion. First of all, our teachers need a break. They have been faithfully serving week after week and part of my role as shepherd is to make sure that the sheep don’t get burned out! Our teachers do a great job and I’m hoping that this break will be reenergizing for them. The second reason is that Sunday School attendance over the summer (particularly July and August) is a bit more sporadic. Our last Sunday School morning will be June 25, and it will return (hear that – it is definitely returning) on September 10th, the first Sunday after Labor Day.
That’s a lot of change isn’t it? I know that change can be tough, and if you have questions about any of this please reach out to me. As I said back at our last congregational meeting in January, whatever changes we decide to make need to be communicated as clearly as possible and with as much notice as is practical. And whatever changes we make will be with a purpose in mind and that purpose will be communicated to you. I hope I accomplished both of these goals in this check-in.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Deb Riddell, the Executive Director of New Hope Community Ministries, will be with us on Sunday and sharing about the ministry during the worship service.
- Men’s Breakfast is set for Saturday, May 28 at 8 am at Hometown Kitchen.
- I will be giving the invocation at the annual Memorial Day Service in Quarryville. Service begins at 10 am at the lower entrance to the park.
- Junior Youth next meet on Sunday, June 4 after the worship service. We will also honor our graduates that morning.
- We will be receiving new members on Sunday, June 11.
Colossians 3:18-21 is one of the most challenging passages in the New Testament, because it deals with our most intimate of relationships – the ones found in our homes. Join us on Sunday at 10 am as we begin to look at what God desires for our families, beginning with the role of a Godly wife.
PS – The rest of us don’t get the morning off! The principles from Scripture that we’ll be looking at apply to all of us in different contexts!