Walking in the Way of CCSJ

Monthly Newsletter of Christ Church St. James Anglican

Pg. 1 - Pastor's pen by Harold Percy Pg. 2 - Photos Pg. 3 - 15 Ways to Make Your Best Year Yet Pg. 4 - Article from Ann Sommerville Pg. 5 - A Note of Celebration Pg. 5 - 6 Undebiable Facts of Life from Sue Hill Pg. 6 - Update news from Steven Craig Pg. 7 - Article by Arthur Pg. 7 - Facts of Hugs Pg. 8 - Article by Tom Wicks Pg. 9 - A Quick Glance at the CCSJ Calendar Pg. 10 - Harold's article cont.

Pg. 10 - Article by Bruce Smith

Page Contents Thinking about Church Growth By Harold Percy

February 2017 Newsletter / Volume 5 / Issue 1

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Several years ago I read a book by Loren Mead of the Alban Institute. The title of the book was “The Way Churches Grow”. This was not a book of handy tips and suggestions that might help us coax a few more people into our churches. It was a book that looked at four different aspects of growth in a congregation. There was of course an assumption behind the thinking in the book, that most of us who love our churches would like to see them grow numerically as we go about our life and ministry. Here are the facets of growth that Mead identified and commented on.

Numerical Growth This of course is the easiest kind of growth for a church to measure. It is dead simple. You just count the people who come week by week and keep a record. If the counts are accurate and done with diligence, it is easy to tell, year over year, whether the church is growing, shrinking or plateaued. There is nothing like hard data to help us know the true reality of our situation.

Maturational Growth This refers to the faith development and spiritual growth of the members of the congregation. This of course is much more difficult to measure objectively. The sad truth is that in many congregations of mainline churches over the years, intentional work in this area has been ignored. It has simply been assumed that people come to church, and that that is more or less the point. I am so pleased that this is not the case at CCSJ. We realize that the New Testament calls all followers of Jesus to be constantly “growing up” in our faith, becoming more like Jesus, learning how to represent him well, learning what it means to live to his glory. This will be a centre piece of any truly dynamic and healthy congregation.

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Philip Shilton's son Christopher as Joseph, his wife Laura as Mary, and baby Adele as baby Jesus.

Youth Group at the Blue Mountain

C E L E B R A T I O N C A F E

Youth Group

9. Stop Multitasking. Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention. Try planning out your day each morning. Knowing what you need to focus on now and what can wait will give you the peace of mind to be able to focus on one thing at a time. 10. Practice the art of resting. Time never stops ticking, but that doesn't mean we have to always be on the go. God knew rest was important and so he created the Sabbath-- a day of rest. Stillness is a good thing. Enjoy God. 11. Take time to reflect. Spend some time thinking through this past year-- what were the highlights? The low points? How did you see the Lord answer prayer? What changes were you hoping to see that didn't happen? Taking the time to think through the good and bad of the past year can help you focus on making change in the year to come. 12. Forgive and let go. "Holding onto bitterness is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person suffers." Maybe you need to forgive a friend or family member for wronging you, or maybe you need to forgive yourself. 13. Kick the clutter. It's easy to get overwhelmed and distracted from the things that matter when we're surrounded by unnecessary stuff. By getting rid of excess and distractions, we actually gain so much-- less pressure to keep up with others, more space to keep the things that matter most to us. 14. Give generously. Commit to being a generous person in 2017. And not just with your money- get creative about how you can live a generous life. 15. Remind yourself of the gospel - everyday. This coming year, you will no doubt have days of celebration and days of disappointments. You will face days with enthusiasm and energy, and other days you will just want to throw in the towel. The good news is, even if there are days that are hard, you can still have your best year yet. But for that to be true, you have to keep Christ as your focus: loving him, knowing him, seeking him, living for him.

15 Ways to Make Your Best Year Yet Abbreviated from an article by Kelly Givens, editor of iBelieve

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1. Practice thankfulness. When we practice thankfulness, we grow in joy, strengthen our faith, and learn dependence on him. The more we are thankful, the more we are like God himself. 2. Write down your goals and read them everyday. What do you want to be different this year? Writing down your goals and reading them regularly won't make them a reality, but it will help you remember those hopes and press on toward them. 3. Spend more time in your Bible. The new year is a perfect time to commit to growing closer to the Lord through studying his Word. Your life will change for the better, guaranteed. 4. Do one thing to make your body stronger each month. By focusing on one health goal a month, you'll begin developing habits that can last a lifetime. A few ideas: limit sugar in January, drink plenty of water in February, get more sleep in March, and so on. 5. Learn how to say "no." For every commitment we say "yes" to today, we're limiting what we can say yes to in the future. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to re-evaluate our commitments and regain margin in our lives. 6. Spend wisely. If money is an area where you struggle, now is the perfect time to find help. (P.S. we are planning to offer the money course again real soon at CCSJ…stay tuned). 7. Be a smart consumer. As Christians, we're called to care for the persecuted and the oppressed. One simple, powerful way to live out this command is to know where your food, clothing and gadgets come from. Pick one item like coffee, chocolate, tech gear or clothing and commit to only purchasing these items fair trade. If everyone made one small change, the difference would be huge. 8. Spend more time with people and less time online. When you look back on life, what are you going to remember? The countless hours spent online or in front of the TV, or the memories you made with friends and family?

Book Review: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande submitted by Ann Somerville

If you have ever known an ageing person who needs assistance in the activities of daily living, or someone who is terminally ill and must decide what treatment to undergo, you will know what difficult issues and decisions these situations raise. How we currently address our mortality, and whether there is a better way, is the subject of Atul Gawande’s excellent book, Being Mortal, available from the Church Library.

Gawande is a surgeon in Boston, and a professor at Harvard Medical School. He begins by explaining that while we are living longer due to advances in medicine, health professionals are generally not trained to deal with end of life issues, and often avoid discussing them, as do lay people. Ageing and dying have largely been turned into medical experiences, managed by medical professionals. In his view, the current reality is intolerable as it results in patients dying in inhumane ways.

The book argues that modern nursing homes are often focused on addressing medical, safety and economic concerns and efficiencies, and not on the quality of life of the residents. Residents are often required to conform every aspect of their lives to the schedules and requirements of the nursing home. The loss of independence, privacy, and their old way of life may be devastating for many residents. The author surveys alternative approaches, including assisted living in the elderly person’s own home or in seniors’ residences while preserving more personal autonomy and a more home-like atmosphere. Many of these approaches are no more expensive than nursing homes.

In our current approach to terminal illness, the author argues that medical professionals don’t always adequately discuss chances of survival or death with their patients, or determine what matters most to their patients in their final days. This makes it difficult to evaluate whether proposed medical treatments are beneficial or whether they increase suffering and negatively impact on the quality of the end of life. The author discusses the benefits of hospice and palliative care, often in the patient’s own home.

While admitting that solutions are not always clear or easy, Gawande proposes that a good start would be to adopt the ultimate goal of enabling well-being, or a good life, to the end of our days, rather than a good death. In treating patients, we need to learn how to have hard conversations about dying. We need to ensure that patients understand what their situation is and potential outcomes, that they identify what they really care about, and what trade offs they are, or are not, willing not make. Hopefully, this makes it easier to identify what course of action maximizes well-being until the end.

Although the subject matter is difficult, Gawande writes in an accessible style, using examples from the lives of his own family or patients, making the book a fast and easy read. I recommend it highly-- it’s one of the many excellent books available from the Christ Church St. James Library.

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CCSJ food bank and Stonegate Ministry distributed 85 chickens, 60 turkeys, and over $5000 in food vouchers on ec . 144 families were served in the span of 90 minutes. All praise to God!

A Note of Celebration

Celebrating three December birthdays at the Foodbank; Tom, Stephanie and George (with Mary Lou subbing in).

Celebrating Roy Bulgen's birthday

Happy birthday to our awesome youth leader Jon!

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Celebration Cafe: 2 years and still kickin'! Bottom photo: standing with Big Steve Turner, the owner of Big Guy's Little Coffee Shop.

GREAT ADVICE submitted by Sue Hill

SIX UNDENIABLE FACTS OF LIFE:

1. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be Happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things not the price.

2. Best wise words in: "Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food."

3. The One who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he or she will find one reason to hold on

4. There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand that.

5. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die.

In between, You have to manage! 6. If you just want to walk fast, walk alone; but, if you want to walk far, walk together!

If you just want to Walk Fast, Walk Alone!

But if you want to Walk Far, Walk Together!

Stories from Montréal

Inter-varsity christian fellowship: steven craig

Dear Friends and Family,

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your partnership in this ministry. I’m deeply grateful for your love for God, students, and me, as expressed through your prayers and your financial support. It’s difficult to find words that are adequate to express how grateful I am. You are a significant part of God’s grace and mercy in my life. Thank you.

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” – Matt 3:1-3

Last year, I met Dima (not her real name). She was a constant presence in the Slavic Club, which had the clubroom next door to Vanier Christian Fellowship. As part of my efforts to get to know students beyond the Christian Fellowship, I spent time regularly with the Slavic Club, and got to know Dima and some of her friends a bit. In turn, some of them visited one or two of our Bible studies.

This year, clubroom space at Vanier is very limited, and the Slavic Club has ended up unofficially sharing our clubroom with us. One day when a few of us were sitting in the clubroom, a new student opened the door, inquiring about the kinds of things that the Christian Fellowship does. Dima, now the president of the Slavic Club, was there and jumped in before I could, beginning to tell the student about our bible studies. Drawing on her experience of the one Bible study she attended last year, she began to tell the story of Jesus and the bleeding woman (Mark 5:21-34). Stumbling in her recollection, but having already piqued the curiosity of several in the room, she turned to me and asked if I would tell the story. I pulled out my Bible and read the passage, adding the part Dima had not heard before, in which Jesus goes on to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:35-43). When I finished, she narrowed her eyes, and looking at me asked one of my favourite questions about that passage: “What do those two stories have to do with each other?” I was thrilled for the chance to have a really good conversation about scripture! We began to talk, but all too soon someone else burst into the room. With the new distraction, the moment and the conversation were lost.

As I reflect on the semester, this story sums up what Vanier Christian Fellowship has been like this semester. At the beginning of the semester there seemed to be potential for some really exciting life in the fellowship. At our first couple of meetings as a fellowship in the fall, I spent some time finding out what students were hoping for in the fellowship this

year. Two weeks ago, as I met with my student executive to debrief the semester, we revisited all of those hopes. We noticed that at the beginning of the semester, we came together longing for growth in faith, deep relationships with each other, and to make an impact on campus. As we looked back together, we realized that few members seemed to have significantly grown in their faith through VCF, our friendships had remained shallow, and our impact on campus was minimal. We came to the sobering realization that we had made little progress toward the realizing the hopes we had brightly set forward in the fall. This in turn led us to a good conversation about how we as a leadership team might have failed to lead toward this, and how we might respond.

Pray for a powerful move of the Holy Spirit at Vanier. Pray for remarkable, transformative encounters with Jesus through scripture and prayer. Pray that the seeds of promises will bear much fruit.

Please pray...

…for Vanier: - For me, for creativity as I lead - That the student leaders would choose to trust Jesus and each, that they would become a team - For powerful and dynamic encounters with Jesus in our prayer meetings and Bible studies - For students to come to faith - For the CÉGEP student leaders’ retreat with students from both Vanier and Dawson Colleges, Jan 15-17. We’ll do some team-building, and visioning and planning for the new semester - Some of my student executives have decided they cannot continue being part of leadership. Pray for new leaders!

Friends at the VCF Christmas Party

You are my partners in the work God has called me to with students. Thank you for your interest, encouragement, prayers, and financial support

Steven Craig

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ARE HUGS IMPORTANT?

Article by Arthur Clark

I greet some people with Agape hugs, mostly our senior people in our congregation and those who have put their time in serving our Lord out of deep respect and appreciation of their long servitude to our Lord.

Let me hug you. Tender care, respect, forgiveness and I am here if you need me … all that is summed up in an agape hug. My brother, my sister, and yes my elder. Cover me, pray for me and forgive me, thank you for blessing me and healing me.

Hug me. Correct me if I am wrong, but a hug from my brother or sister, senior, (please note to me that seniors are the older to who much respect is owed, members whom we can learn much from) means to me greet each other with a holy kiss, and share the binding love Jesus has for us all, and healing and respect.

Hug me! Greet me! Pray for me.

Sad to say I don’t have that open trust with all I meet. For I get a sense of asocial stigma from some people that I am somehow or in some ways in violation of social moral. Real men don’t hug and only perverts hug young women. on’t even think about the child beside you.. Yet I was greeted by a person who heard a song I composed and sang during the week at the vacation bible camp after Sunday’s service who hugged me because the song touched her heart to say thank you. I was and still am deeply moved and blessed all because of the hug she gave and shared.

Godly thanks and Agape hugs to all my Christian family, (my brothers and sisters and seniors who are blessed examples for us young people to learn from)

With much respect to all Yes; Hugs are important

Research shows that hugging (and also laughter) is extremely

effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression,

anxiety and stress.

1. The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of

safety. This helps with open and honest communication.

2. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal

feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.

3. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one's serotonin

levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.

4. Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on

the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the

Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which

regulates and balances the body's production of white blood

cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.

5. Hugging boosts self-esteem. From the time we're born our

family's touch shows us that we're loved and special. The

associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years

are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we

received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain

imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level

of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.

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6. Hugging relaxes muscles. Hugs release tension in the body.

Hugs can take away pain; they soothe aches by increasing

circulation into the soft tissues.

7. Hugs balance out the nervous system. The galvanic skin

response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a

change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and

electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the

nervous system - parasympathetic.

8. Hugs teach us how to give and receive. There is equal value

in receiving and being receptive to warmth, as to giving and

sharing. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways.

9. Hugs are so much like meditation and laughter. They teach us to

let go and be present in the moment. They encourage us to flow

with the energy of life. Hugs get you out of your circular thinking

patterns and connect you with your heart and your feelings and

your breath.

Source: Marcus Julian Felicetti, (August 10, 2012). Ten Reasons Why We Need At Least 8 Hugs A Day. Retrieved from URL http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5756/10-Reasons-Why-We-Need-at-Least-8-Hugs-a-Day.html

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An Issue of Miscommunication (Apparently a Male Character Foible) by Tom Wicks

The short story as told is a rejoinder to a statement made by a certain female parishioner of CCSJ, an observation about an event which occurred between her husband and another (male) parishioner, me. Males, a much misunderstood lot but any fuller discussion is for another day.

I had found I would be available for a series of free dinners as my family would soon be away for an extended (two week) span. The ‘batching it’ bit I have experienced over previous intermittent stretches, spanning several years. A solution to my inept cooking skills (a learned skill in itself, in a skillful showcasing of the fact) had been to casually let people know of my impending availability, done by clever mention of the fact then slipping in a ‘Which night would you like to have me?’ often delivered by a dedicated telephone call made for the purpose. A certain degree of ‘successes’ would be attained as it turned out, in the manner of the ‘singing for your supper approach’. I had certainly enjoyed and appreciated peoples’ hospitality. (No definitive word on views of all hosts involved.) My wife had in past expressed a general dismay about my intrusive behaviour in and by her varied references. This time though upon leaving on the Saturday for an extended babysitting time in Ottawa, most specific instructions were given which boiled down to a ‘Don’t Do That’.

I tried to follow instructions but alas appeared a slip… on Sunday. I thought I was referring to past dining sins, to the he of the cordial couple in question here and not hinting at anything. They graciously accepted my non-invitation to them, as it was mistakenly taken to be, but one delivered face-to-face displaying in me an incidental etiquette format improvement. (I reasoned in retrospect... if it’s a good error… ‘go with it’.) The male counterpart and I worked out menu ideas, and this was going to be good. He knew what he was doing too. He was to be the chef for this opportunity. She would be given details later. Things consequently had progressed ‘well’. The day/time issues were the finishing touches to be worked out. After consultation with his wife he returned to advise the most suitable day, this while I was slightly distracted concluding a conversation with another parishioner after the Sunday service. (Again this was the day after the ‘Don’t Do That’ edict.) I heard a ‘this Wednesday, 6:30’, got it and marked it down, though only by personal memory, an old note-bank system of increasing unreliability. But, I was sure I had it right.

The next day Monday, I had been out of the house at the 7:00 p.m. time of a message left on my telephone answering machine. I retrieved it much later, at about 10:00 p.m. The message was from a gruffish assertive sounding un-self-identifying voice (male) I could easily recognize. The message?… He guessed I’d found another ‘volunteer’ to provide supper for that Monday night. (Actually I hadn’t. I was doing something constructive. I can’t quite recall what). A shortened ‘Call me’ ended the message. Oh, no, I figured by the message’s content and tone, a supper had been set for me earlier that Monday night, it was not to be Wednesday as I remembered… and where was I? Too late call to apologize. In a pre-emptive move, I figured I’d show-up the next day, on their doorstep to personally carry out the task. I lost sleep over it all.

Sure enough Tuesday shortly after 9:00 a.m., a time when most people, even retired ones, should well be into the beginnings of their days I purposefully rang their front doorbell, while practicing my best guilt-ridden facial expression, accompanied by a slight downward tilt to my head. (The visual alone was to be convincing). The large front door opened very slowly. Peeking around its edge was ‘the wife’ in this account dressed in a large fuzzy comfortable looking bath-type robe. “Oh, it’s Tom!” accompanied for her part by a mystified look. “I’ve come to apologize for not being here last night. I had it marked as Wednesday.” “It is Wednesday.” with a sigh, eyeball roll, upward head tilt. (High drama juxtaposed to my down-tilting effort). Followed, ‘Why do males never get it right? They just can’t communicate’. On one hand I was right about the day, on another I erred in showing up unannounced and while she was on her way to breakfast, and on a third hand …he was still in bed. The error was identified as caused by male gender lack of proper messaging skills. I’ll further risk it all by saying inferred also was a notable lack of proper understanding and allowance for probable or possible ambiguousness almost held as a hint about yet another wanting male trait. (I’m just saying.)

The Monday evening telephone message was to be a reminder of the Wednesday gathering. Apparently, once again this was a fumbled all-male issue. At least, with this analysis, I knew why what just happened, happened. I was though invited in for coffee spur of the moment that very morning, looking I expect much in need, given the lack of sleep my conscience had dictated. My female host (and keen social science observer here) had tea while us two males, both by now appearing somewhat alert, enjoyed coffee. He declared he had made the ‘coffee-robusta’, (my wording). It was good. I questioned the possibility of an ‘error’ on his part as a male, but nope he knew he had of purpose made it so well. One, maybe two up for males in this scene! Wonderful three-way wide ranging conversation was had that morning unanticipated as it was, approximately a day and a half ahead of schedule. Lots of effective communicating going on. I figured I was to understand direct female involvement component this time was by axiom the putative reason. A warm-up, in a warm home, in warm company, even so. A great way, (even if inconveniencing for two others), to get into my day that day…mostly! An excellent meal was enjoyed on the Wednesday. There were several things about which we all communicated. (Another female parishioner by invite had joined in the good times, to help?) The next issue though still remains, keeping any news of the caper away from my wife. Ohhh. (Not sure she, as a she not a he, could help with a way to non-communicate it, I wouldn’t ask.) There are communications challenges and there are communications challenges.

- Morning Worship, Holy Communion. Preacher: Dave Sproule

- Messy Church, 4pm

- Men's Ministry to the Keele Correctional Center/ Evening Bible Fellowship, Lake Shore Condo

- "Coffee, God and me", at the Baker's Dozen, Lake Shore and Burlington 3pm

- Evening Bible Fellowship, at the home of Darlene Trumper

- Food Bank, 10:30am

- Morning Worship, Holy Communion. Preacher: Bruce Smith. Music by "Joy in the Morning"

- Annual Vestry, immediately following Morning Worship

- Cafe Church on the Lake Shore, 7pm

- Coffee, God and me....Baker's Dozen, Lake Shore and Burlington. 3pm

- Evening Bible Fellowship, at the home of Darlene Trumper

- Food Bank, 4pm

- Parish Corporation Meeting

- Morning Worship, Celebration Cafe, in the lower floor.

- Evening Bible Fellowship, Lake Shore Condo

- Coffee, God and me....Lake Shore and Burlington. 3pm

- Food Bank

- TNT, 6pm in the foyer

- Camp Koinonia Annual Meeting, noon, St. Bride's Mississauga

- Men's Breakfast at, 8:30pm

- Morning Worship, Holy Communion. Preaching: Brandon Witwer

- Cafe Church on the Lake Shore, 7pm

- Coffee. God and me....Lake Shore and Burlington, 3pm

YOUTH SCHEDULE:

- Friday - Collect Food/Alpha

- Friday - Snakes and Lattes (Sr. Youth) Bring your friends!! (no jr youth group)

- Friday - PA Day (no school) - Meet at Church/ Alpha

- Saturday - Today’s Teens Conference

- Ash Wednesday Evening Service. Preaching: Jon Dykeman

- Morning Worship, Holy Communion. Preaching: Carol Langley

- Messy Church, 4pm

- Morning Worship, Holy Communion. Preaching: Carol Langley

- Celebration Cafe, 3:30pm

- Cafe Church on the Lake Shore, 7pm

YOUTH SCHEDULE:

- Meet at Church - Alpha

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THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL GOD

Every Thursday afternoons at 2pm at CCSJ

A Quick Glance at the CCSJ Calendar

"Walking in the Way at CCSJ! - beginning a new year at Christ Church St. James by Bruce Smith

Friends, the call is to ‘walk in the Spirit’ (Galations 5:16). Paul doesn’t tell us to “fly in the Spirit" or "run in the Spirit." He doesn't even say "jog in the Spirit." He just says ‘walk’. What is walking? It's a series of small steps in the same direction over a long period of time. Walking may not seem as exciting as running, but it will get us from where we are to where we need to be. That’s why walking is the perfect picture of the Christian life and of the Christian community. It describes the ordinary action of ordinary people in their ordinary routine. As we walk, walk, and keep on walking, “carefully and prayerfully”, we will end up exactly where we are meant to be. Sound good? There may be times this year as a parish when it will feel like we’re flying. Undoubtedly there will also be days when it will seem like a race. But the call remains the same: a steady, obedient, faithful walk, shoulder to shoulder. Walking days are always good days if we are walking together with God. May we never give up. May we never run ahead or lag behind. The passage doesn’t mention finding a bunch of comfy chairs in the bleachers. Following Jesus suggests motion,- moving in the right direction with a sense of anticipation, expectation, even excitement. And on this walk there is no room or reason for discouragement. Just the opposite: this is an adventure of fascination and discovery! Wow! – sign me up! Looking forward to ‘walking in the Way at CCSJ” in 0 7. May many others join us on the journey. Amen?

...Continue of 'Thinking About Church Growth' by Harold

Organic Growth This has to do with the nature of the congregation as a community. It has to do with its governance structures and its levels of communication and decision making. The point here is to make sure that everything works in alignment and enhances good ministry rather than getting in its way. It also has to do with the nature of the life of the community – to what degree it is a genuine community in which the members love and care for each other, and the spirit in which they relate to each other and go about their various tasks and roles in ministry. One way to express this, I think, is to talk about being a genuine community instead of simply a congregation.

Incarnational Growth This refers to the nature of the ministry the congregation has in its local community. The people it serves and the needs it reaches out to meet, in ministries of compassion and justice. It has to do with how a church represents Jesus himself, in addressing issues and help families and individuals. Congregations are located in all kinds of local communities, each with various needs and issues. The challenge for a congregation is to find ways to get involved to help with these local needs and issues in the name of Jesus.

These are all marks of a healthy, faithful and vital congregation and they are all important. My take on all of this is that if a congregation ever sets out with the simple goal of “getting more people”, there is a danger they will lose their way. On the other hand, if a congregation sets its heart on helping its people grow in their faith, tending to it structures and community life, and serving the local neighbourhood with compassion and love, it is very likely that it will experience numerical growth simply as a result of doing all this.

The church doesn’t do any of these things in order to “get more people” of course. It is just that numerical growth is one of the things that can happen in a congregation that focuses on the other three as it learns to live to the glory of God.

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