Rector's Rambling - September 19, 2010 - Faith Alive

Sunday School and Adult Education got off to a good start last week, and it sure was wonderful to have the full choir back as well.
In the coming weeks you will be hearing a lot about the Faith Alive weekend on November 5-7. For the past 5 weeks we have started announcements with the Faith Alive minute, given by members of the “home” team helping to plan the weekend. There has also been information in the Ministry Notes in the Parish Chronicle, and various inserts. In our newsletter, The Eagle, there are articles and a schedule of the happenings of the Faith Alive weekend.
Now is the time for the members of the parish to get on board. Sign ups for participating in the weekend are beginning. We need to know who will be coming so that we can plan in advance for meals, meeting space/location, etc. But more importantly, the sign up period will show the commitment you have to being there for your own spiritual health as well as the spiritual health of the parish.
We are asking for your participation on Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning. Yes, it is a lot. Yes, St. John’s is a long way from many parishioner’s homes. Yes, three days is a lot of time to be coming down here. But YOU, and ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, are worth it!
In my nearly 10 years here we have had fits and spurts of growth in grace and membership. From 45 to 190 average Sunday attendance is a good start, especially considering how many people have moved away in those nearly 10 years. But the continued and increased spiritual health of the parish is the foundation on which any future growth and health must be built.
Whether you are an every Sunday attendee, or perhaps sporadic in being here, God is calling YOU to participate November 5-7. Be sure to sign up for Faith Alive for your good, and the good of the parish as a whole.
I have never heard anyone who has done a Faith Alive weekend say they wish they hadn’t. Quite the opposite. Come and experience it yourself!