|
March 2006
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And
how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can
they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach
unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of
those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15 NIV)
Dear All Saints'
Family,
On Ash Wednesday, we begin the forty day season of Lent when we
collectively and individually take time to engage in spiritual
disciplines in preparation for the celebration of the great feast of
Easter. Ideally our Lenten discipline begins with the acknowledgment of
our mortality, sins, failures, and neglect, (things done and left
undone). We then embark on a journey of repentance and renewal ending
when we gather together for the ancient practice of the renewal of our
Baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil.
In one of the prayers in the Litany of Penitence (said during the Ash
Wednesday service) we confess “our negligence in prayer and worship, and
our failure to commend the faith that is within us.” Likewise one of the
promises we make during the renewal of baptismal vows is “to proclaim by
word and example the good news of God in Christ.” God has powerfully
impressed upon me recently that we are being called to rediscover our
call to evangelism. In a recent sermon I urged us all to regain the
passion, commitment, and willingness to sacrifice for the call of
sharing the gospel, and I believe this is where the Holy Spirit is
leading us.
The apostle Paul had great compassion for those who did not know Jesus.
In the passage above, he logically concludes that the main concern for
the church is to train and send out people with the good news of God in
Christ. Jesus' last word to his followers were to “Go into the all the
world and preach the good news to all creation.” Somewhere along the
line we have failed in our responsibility to commend the faith that is
within us. Last fall a small group began gathering on Wednesday evenings
to study the subject of mission and evangelism. This group has moved on
to become a catalyst for shaping ways we can faithfully share the good
news of Jesus, and I am excited about our plans for the next few months.
Fr. Dan and I will continue to encourage all of us to think of ways we
can share our faith with others. Many of our members, (myself included)
have experienced the opportunity to share Jesus through the Christian
Farmers Outreach stick ministry. We will be inviting others to take part
in this ministry in the coming months and plan to have a booth at the
Reisterstown Festival in September. We also plan to be a participating
congregation in for the Franklin Graham Festival in July. There will be
opportunities to participate in the festival choir, as ushers or as
counselors. More information will follow.
Most of all I ask for everyone to pray for our efforts to share our
faith and to consider how you can support our call to evangelism. Not
everyone is called to be an evangelist, but we all can play a part
through prayer, financial support, encouragement, hospitality, or
whatever our gifts may be.
May God bless you this Lenten season,
Fr. David+
top
|
