Balance

The life of the church is important to believers. We share the gospel, encourage and comfort each other, and do the things that God planned for us to do before we were born. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed. Sometimes we think that we should do more. I ask that you consider what we are called to do and what we are doing and see if we have some balance (not equality but balance).

We want to reach people and see them in worship, education, and fellowship activities, but we also know that through the ages, God has worked with a remnant. Sometimes we are to grow. Sometimes we are to strengthen what remains. We want to get it right.  We want the right balance. The session is likely the only place where balance is discussed much among leaders.

Let’s do a simple exercise called RAD (Recognize – Analyze – Divide) and see what we already know. You may want to grow the lists in each area. Let’s start with what we recognize.

Worship

Sunday Morning Worship X2

Wednesday Evening Worship (usually 1 time per month)

Summer Singing (1 time per month)

Thanksgiving worship and meal

Christmas worship and meal

Community Services (2 times per year)

CPC Birthday Worship & Fellowship Meal

 

Fellowship

5^th Sunday Meals (currently suspended for 2024)

Summer Singing (1 time per month)

Thanksgiving worship and meal

Christmas worship and meal

One Pot Meal + Activities X2 (sometimes X3)

CPC Birthday Worship & Fellowship Meal

 

Education

Sunday School

Wednesday Evenings (7 Months)

Occasional Bible Studies

Outreach/Evangelism

Walk A Block for Jesus (or other event/activity to reach those beyond our walls)

Hour of Power

Broadcast of services (can be a double-edged sword)

Online Posts – Life of the Church

Wristbands/Gospels/Other giveaway items for any occasion

Food Ministry

Take home supplies to give to Trick or Treaters

 

Reserved for Families (Typically nothing scheduled for the body other than Sunday morning worship)

Resurrection Sunday

Mothers’ Day

Father’s Day

Christmas Day

Days/Times Unique to  a specific family/families

 

Other Activities

Meetings

Committee/Commission Work

 

Worldly Competitors – Not saying these are good, bad, or ugly, but they are competitors for our time and energy.

Youth Sports (Traditional boundaries of Sunday and Wednesday are nearly eviscerated).

Travel (We are a very mobile society)

Livelihood (You don’t work. You don’t eat or make the car payment)

  

Other Areas of Consideration

Salvation belongs to the Lord, but these belong to us:

Worship

Evangelism

Discipleship

Education

Fellowship

 

CPC uniqueness

Known for our grace

Connectional (among judicatories, generations, and institutions)

Connectional (among members. Campers, Presbytery meetings, Youth Retreats, and General Assembly help with connections)

 

Committee Meetings 28 February 2021

 

Committee Meetings

28 February 2021

6 pm

 

It has been a while since all committees met.  Please take attendance and include it on the committee report.  We do a lot by text and phone, but having all committees meeting at the same time allows for cross-committee coordination. For example, Kendra may need to talk to the Education Committee about VBS. 

Below are some agenda items for each committee to prime the pump.  All should be discussed.  Not all require action.  Each committee will likely add other items.  Please capture them in your reports.  Please schedule your next meeting.  Not all committees need to meet every month.

 

Worship—Helping all participate in worshiping God

Songs we know

Choir Practice

Music for Songs in Hymnals

Training Acolytes

Weekly Email (traditional service)

Weekly Message (First Light)

Preparation of Sanctuary

Cross Committee Coordination

Next Meeting

 

Education—Curriculum faithful to biblical truth

Quarterly Reports from SS Superintendent

VBS Plans

Memory Verses

Coordinated Curriculum Jr Hight to Senior Adult

Vetting New Teachers

Cross Committee Coordination

Next Meeting

 

Missions – faithful to reaching people with the gospel

Walk A Block

Food Boxes

Town Celebration (Independence Day/October?)

Other outreach

Cross Committee Coordination

Next Meeting

 

 

Building and Grounds—caring for facilities now and planning for the future

Urgent Needs

Current Needs

Future Needs

Cross Committee Coordination

Next Meeting

 

 

Fellowship—enjoying and taking care of the body of Christ

Fellowship Teams

Meal Planning for F4

Cost Savings

Cross Committee Coordination

Next Meeting

Meeting Areas

Youth Exploratory – Tom’s office

Worship – Sanctuary

Education – Kathy’s Classroom

Missions – Sr Adult Classroom

Building & Grounds – Younger Elementary Classroom

Fellowship – Fellowship Hall

 

 

 

Our Standing Committees

 

Committees

Worship – In concert with the minister, prepares the order of worship, sanctuary, ushers, banners, and other aspects of corporate worship.  Selecting hymns and arranging for musicians or music from playlists, making sure liturgists know when they are scheduled, and arranging for special music and readings.  Also arranges for the training of acolytes, ushers, and arranges for choir practice.

Building and Grounds—Inspects the property of the church with eyes for maintenance requirements.  Identifies major areas requiring repair or replacement to the session, conducts minor maintenance, and proposes and coordinates workdays when needed. Contracts the Janitor.

Missions—Connects the body of Christ with the community through events, food, distribution of gospels, and other outreach efforts.  Missions work that you might know—Backpack Ministry, Chewy Tuesdays, food baskets, Walk A Block for Jesus, and more with opportunities for new missions.  The church was made for mission.  This committee organizes the bulk of our corporate mission work.  Such work can include mission trips near and far away. Think God’s Love in Action.

Education—In concert with the Sunday School Superintendent, checks curriculum for soundness, coordinates VBS, recruits and vets teachers, and proposes educational events.  Think a workman approved for every good work.  Special attention is given to our children and youth.

Fellowship—Focuses mostly internally on keeping the body of Christ healthy and connected in many ways.  Meals on 5^th Sundays, funeral dinners, and just get-togethers that let the people enjoy being God’s children with each other.  Also looks for new faces during worship services, welcomes them, and invites them to other activities of this body. This committee should always be on the lookout for anyone who does not seem to be connecting.  We have no strangers within the body.  Koinonia, inclusion, and family are keywords to this committee.

 There are other ways to use your gifts and talents. Some are called and equipped to visit shut-ins. Some are prayer warriors. Many here have the gift of service. Whatever your interests or skills, there is a role for you to contribute to the church's mission. 

There is a place for you on one of these groups that plans and organizes, putting you right in the middle of the church's work. You do not have to be a member of the church to serve on a committee.

Committees

Committees

How does the work of the local church get done?  Who plans and who coordinates?  Often the answer to these questions lies in committees.  These groups of people who want to serve the Lord in various ways investigate, plan, coordinate, revise, and improve what was done the time before.  Why?  To bring glory to God by serving God in this small body called the congregation.

Not everything is done in committee, but much is.  Here are the standing committees of this local body.

Worship – In concert with the minister, prepares the order of worship, sanctuary, ushers, banners, and other aspects of corporate worship.  Selecting hymns and arranging for musicians or music from playlists, making sure liturgists know when they are scheduled, and arranging for special music and readings.  Also arranges for the training of acolytes, ushers, and arranges for choir practice.

Building and Grounds—Inspects the property of the church with eyes for maintenance requirements.  Identifies major areas requiring repair or replacement to the session, conducts minor maintenance, proposes and coordinates workdays when needed.

Missions—Connects the body of Christ with the community through events, food, distribution of gospels, and other outreach efforts.  Missions work that you might know—Love Ambush #1 (Easter Egg Hunt), Love Ambush #2 (Trunk or Treat), Backpack Ministry, Chewy Tuesdays, food baskets, Walk A Block for Jesus, and more.  The church was made for mission.  This committee organizes the bulk of our corporate mission work.  Such work can include mission trips near and far away.

Education—In concert with the Sunday School Superintendent, checks curriculum for soundness, coordinates VBS, recruits and vets teachers, and proposes educational events.  Think a workman approved for every good work.  Special attention is given to our children and youth.

Fellowship—Focuses mostly internally on keeping the body of Christ healthy and connected in many ways.  Meals on 5^th Sundays, funeral dinners, and just get-togethers that let the people enjoy being God’s children with each other.  Also looks for new faces during worship services, welcomes them, and invites them to other activities of this body. This committee should always be on the lookout for anyone who does not seem to be connecting.  We have no strangers within the body.  Koinonia, inclusion, and family are keywords to this committee.

There is a place for you on one of these groups that plans and organizes and puts you right in the middle of the work of the church.  You do not have to be a member of the church to serve on a committee.