God is Good

God is Good.

I have this friend. She quit attending her local Lutheran church years before after some personal difficulties. The experience of a divorce, children who were acting out publicly and some serious financial life adjustments, and she just plain quit being ‘active’ in her church. One day I just asked her, “what it was exactly that she did not like about ‘church’ anymore?”. I was surprised by her answer. She said that it isn’t really anything about God that keeps her away, but she just doesn’t want to be reminded by church members of her public shame. Public shame? Do we do that? Do we as members of Abiding Love do things to make people feel ‘shameful’? I don’t believe in a God that asks for ‘public shame’. I believe in a God that loves through everything that no one is ever — shamed. Shame is not part of God’s Dream. The Kingdom of God is good and beautiful and it is beginning right now.

We have a good and beautiful God that welcomes everyone, especially those for whom the world tries to shame. Come, experience God’s love and let your load be lightened. My friend still doesn’t go to church. But, she does call me and talk with me about ‘who’ this really good God that I have come to know is. For now, that is enough.

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

With abiding love,

Pastor Lynnae

“Raising the Roof”!

Abiding Love is “Raising the Roof” as Staff, Congregation Council, Boards and members in 2011! Raising the roof on “barriers to overcome” by identifying and addressing the key factors that our growing church and children’s center must consider as “barriers to overcome” as we strive to grow.

As we follow God’s call to grow both spiritually and physically, we have recognized some obstacles. Our Congregation Council will be informed at their council retreat this January with the leadership of Bishop Emeritus, Reverend Paul Blom (whom we know as Pastor Paul). Pastor Paul will use material from his own experience, the Carver Board Leadership Model, ‘Raising the Roof’ by Alice Mann and from Lyle Schaller’s ‘Worship Type Analogy’.

Alice Mann’s research shows that churches are generally organized in one of four ways:

1)      Family Church: Average attendance up to 50  people

2)     Pastoral Church: Average attendance up to 150 people

3)     Program Church: Average attendance up to 500 people

4)     Corporate Church: Average attendance over 500 people

For years now we have been stuck in an attendance plateau of around 195 people. Lately, we have begun breaking the glass ceiling on this number! Please pray for Abiding Love to meet the needs of the community and it’s membership as we grow! These are exciting times and, with God’s help, we really are - “Raising the Roof”!

With abiding love,

Pastor Lynnae

Have you seen our website?  www.abidinglove.org