Where are all the smiles? One
of the things that makes our church home so welcoming and affirming to our
visitors are those seat warmers sitting in the pews. That’s right - YOU are
what helps make the difference. That old saying, “the first impression is
the lasting one,” is Oh so true! It should not be a secret. YOU are already
aware of this as this is what may have led most of you to our church in the
first place. Yes, things are not what they were in the “good ole days”.
But, pray tell, what is? Part of what we have to look forward to in life
is change. Yes, that something new and possibly very exciting is just around
the corner.
I am saddened when I hear some of us knocking our church
because of “changes” and “that’s not how we did it did it in the past”. You
are probably right but this is a new day and it may call for a new way of
thinking and doing things. I can recall recent articles in the newspaper
about various church closings due to lack of support etc. In fact, I feel
that ALL churches must change the way they do things if we expect to be able
to reach out and attract new members from the iPod generation.
Where are the smiles, EACC? Yes, we have had some rough knocks, but we
are still standing! Let’s not bemoan our failures and shortcomings. Instead
let’s celebrate our successes! Yes, the Men’s Council retreat could have
been better supported. But Hallelujah!! We had it! It was very uplifting
and those that attended look forward to an even bigger one next year. Tell
our young boys and young men about the positive male role models with
diverse backgrounds in our church getting together in fellowship. The choirs
and music each week literally lift the roof off the sanctuary. Tell
someone about that, not that we ran out of cookies at coffee hour. The
sermons have been very spiritual and uplifting. Let’s preach that, not that
the parking lot has holes in it. We have been BLESSED in so many ways at
EACC, yet for some reason we don’t celebrate and share it the way we could
and should. Let’s return (a short journey for some) to being that happy,
friendly, outgoing source of spiritual enlightenment type of church family
that we are known for. Let’s once again be “friends.” No concern about
hidden agendas; past slights become just that, past, and we are willing to
communicate and share and resolve our differences in an appropriate
manner as we open our hearts and minds to being the Church. We as the
church are the Body of Christ.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good
return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But
pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down
together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one
may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is
not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV
Al
Parks, Moderator
In Christ, Al
Parks