October 2004
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians
2:10 NIV)
Dear All Saints’ Family,
A little over six years ago the Tuesday morning Bible study began
reading through the scriptures starting with Genesis 1:1, “in the
beginning...” Over the years the participants of the study have changed,
but the consistency of the revelation of God throughout the Bible has
remained. God’s message of grace, mercy, and loving kindness rings
through both the Old and New Testaments. Alongside the revelation of the
love of God are the message of judgment and the command that God’s
people live holy, obedient, humble lives. God is indeed the same
yesterday, today and forever.
We arrived at the book of Ephesians in our study this week, and this
verse jumped off the page like lightning. For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared
in advance for us to do. This portion of scripture is so very
relevant for us at this time in the life of All Saints’ Church.
“We are God’s workmanship” I believe with all of my heart that no
one is a member of this church by accident. God has brought each and
every one of us together for a purpose and each one of us is important
to the overall mission of All Saints’ regardless of age, status, or
length of service. As we discern our mission, we must be aware of whom
God has placed among us and assess our individual gifts, talents and
resources for his glory and purpose.
“[We are] created in Jesus Christ to do good works” We are
children of God created for a purpose, and that purpose is to do good
works. The scriptures are clear that the church was never meant to be an
institution created to preserve the status quo but was to engage the
world with the witness of God’s love, the good news of Jesus Christ, and
the care for those in need. We must be outward looking and discover ways
to both meet the needs of our community and to be faithful witness of
the Gospel.
“which God has prepared in advance for us to do” God has
assembled us and has equipped us to fulfill his purpose. I believe that
he has brought us to the place we are now in order to unleash his Spirit
upon us and send us into our community with new mission and purpose. He
prepared the mission field in advance, he has prepared us in advance,
and it is up to us to discern our mission purpose and pray for the Holy
spirit to empower us.
It will be the task of the leadership of All Saints’ to discover and
articulate our mission over the next few months. The fall vestry retreat
will focus on the call of God and the future of All Saints’ Church. I
ask your prayers as we enter the days and weeks ahead that we bee
faithful to the call of the Lord, and have the courage to move ahead in
the power of the Spirit.
Blessings,
Fr. David
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