February 15th, 2019

​On February 2, clergy and laity from various churches in the West Valley gathered together at different places throughout our state for a “Day of Learning.” The workshop topics and leaders were chosen with the goal of strengthening our church ministries. These topics included Reaching Out to the Millennials, Behavioral Health-Caring for Other and Caring for Yourself, Discipling Systems, Congregational Care Ministries, Going Green and Not My War. 

The day was filled with interacting with familiar colleagues and getting to know new ones, learning different ways to strengthening our ministries already in place and learning about new ministries we might want to pursue in the future. 

But as I listened to all the different ways to strengthen our ministries (basically the church), it all came down to one thing (doesn’t it usually come down to “one thing”). That “one thing” is RELATIONSHIPS. 

Within the church settings, growth or strength in ministry comes about when we start truly caring about each other and building relationships with each other, basically we get to know who we are. All that occurs when we share about who we are. It is strengthening when we are there for each other. Maybe it is a simple as phone call or text. Maybe it is a card that comes in the mail. Maybe it is welcoming someone new into your sphere of influence. Getting to know each other or building relationships come in all different forms. 

Of course that means we all need to share of ourselves with each other and that can be scary. Things won’t be so scary when we learn to accept people the way they are. You don't have to agree with them all the time in order to form a relationship with them. No one likes to be judged, so relationships are built on providing a safe place for everyone. 

For the next few weeks the weekend messages from me during worship will be about growing together as a church or building up the body of Christ through the “One Another” teachings of Christ. 

Looking forward to growing together, 
Pastor Deborah