Service to God through church leadership

As Reformed Christians, we believe that God equips every person with gifts, talents, and skills to be used not only for one's self alone, but to be shared in the community of faith and spread out into the rest of the world. The gifts God gives find their best expression when nurtured in the community of faith and shared in helping God's kin-dom be made real. This Sunday we will confirm, through ordination and installation, the call of God to be church officers, as elders and deacons. Officers are active members of Hope Presbyterian Church who have been asked and/or felt some sense of call to use their gifts at this time for the ministry, nurture, and governance of this congregation, and to the holy catholic (universal) and apostolic (connected to Jesus' first disciples) church! What a hopeful and exciting moment to witness firsthand the movement of God's Holy Spirit in the church, local and universal!

The installation of new officers means they are receiving the baton of leadership from a group of dedicated officers who have completed one or two consecutive terms (3 years each) as elders or deacons. By our polity (governance structure), their ordination is for a lifetime, whether actively serving or actively resting from service. I hope you all will join me in offering deep gratitude to God for their service and ministry. I will miss their presence in meetings (though I'm sure THEY won't miss the meeting part!) while at the same time I am eager to see where else God will call upon them to use their gifts. Please pray for all of those in leadership and service to God through church leadership.

I also invite you to read these Scripture Lessons Psalm 138 and 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 to prepare yourself for the proclamation and activation of the Word in worship and praise for this coming Sunday.

As a reminder this summer is another great opportunity to invite family, friends, neighbors and anyone you meet to come worship with you at Hope. And for those who are traveling, remember to travel safely, enjoy the journey, gather up stories and come home to share them!

Peace be with you as you go to be the Church!