Summer on the Mind    (May 2, 2010)

SERMON:  Deuteronomy 29:29; 30:11-14 ("The Revealed Things"); Pastor Waters preaching.  We also celebrate the Lord's Supper and the admission of four of our covenant children:  Drew Bowman, Elijah North, Rachel Poteet, and Abigail Wontrop.  We will also briefly recognize and pray for our gradating college seniors and grad students.

SUGGESTED FAMILY DEVOTIONAL TEXT:  Deuteronomy 6, Romans 10, or I John 3

ADULT CLASSES, 9:30am:  Spring Session continues two more weeks!  Jump right into one of five great classes (Minor Prophets, Parenting, College, Choir and Inquirers).  

HYMNS:  ~ Psalm 78:  Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds (Trinity 364)
                  ~ Amazing Grace (Trinity 460)
                  ~ To God be the Glory (Trinity 55)

SONGS:  ~ All Hail the Lamb
                 ~ Jesus, I am Resting, Resting
                ~ The Revelation Song

DEVOTIONAL:  Summer on the Mind

With Pastor Waters preaching for us this coming Sunday (on a very interesting text), I thought I might take this opportunity to talk about the preaching plans for the summer, which are quite different than anything we have done before.   When in town, I normally preach 6-7 Sundays in a row, and then take a break, both for my sake and to make sure that we are not associating God's Word with just one man's take or personality (i.e. mine).

But this summer, we are reversing that.   From May 30th to August 8th, Brian will preach the majority of the sermons.  I will still preach once a month just to keep my head in the game, but the summer series will be brought by Pastor Waters, most likely on the Psalms, while I finish up the tail end of Romans.

In addition, most weeks, Brian will also take the main role in planning and leading worship and writing the devotionals.  I will keep moderating the Session, putting the bulletins together and performing other administrative and pastoral tasks.  But for preaching and worship this summer, Brian and I are flipping.  

Why are we doing this?   Well, for several reasons.   First, it will be good for me.  For the past 12 years, I have preached most Sundays, and this extended break should be refreshing and give me a chance to focus on some other things (see below).

Second, it will be good for Pastor Waters.   As an associate pastor, I was blessed to have the opportunity to develop my preaching gifts in my former church's evening worship service, something we do not have here right now.   And it is hard to develop when one only has the opportunity to bring topical sermons now and then.   But Brian is already a fine preacher and will only get better as he has an opportunity to preach an actual series week in and week out.   And we have been fairly open to the fact that one day the Lord may call him to pastor or plant his "own" church someday.   We'd hate to lose him, just as we hated to lose Kyle, but we must be kingdom minded about these things.  But that is not likely to happen if he does not have a chance to spread his preaching wings a little.

Third, it will be good for the congregation.   It will be good for us to sit under another man's exposition.   I Corinthians 3:1-11 makes it clear that none of us are to be followers of Paul or Apollos, or any one man, but of Christ alone.   The rest of us are just servants and stewards.  In fact, as I think of it, for those of you were almost 6 years ago, that text was my candidating sermon.   So if you voted for me to come here, then you will welcome Brian's preaching this summer!

So, pray for Brian (and Danielle -- heh!) as he takes on this expanded role this summer on top of YXL, Summer Bible Camp, and continuing to lead our youth ministry, missions committee, and pastor many of our young couples.  And pray for the church to be blessed by their ministry and for God to continue to guide and bless them as a family.

Pray also for me (and Kirstan -- heh again!), that I would make good use of the summer.  This is why I am asking for your prayers, and I want to be frank:  I am not quite burned out, but I am in need of some spiritual refreshment, and perhaps a different routine.  But here's the thing:  in the past, I have not always taken good advantage of these kinds of opportunities.  I don't generally do well without hard deadlines to keep me pressing ahead.   So pray for me to genuinely serve the Lord each day this summer.  This is not a vacation or a sabbatical; just a change of routine.

So what do I plan to do with the extra time?  Well, Lord willing, I have several things in mind, and you can pray for them, such as:

1) Taking more time just to be with the Lord and grow in personal holiness.  I have let the busyness of the job and of life in general to cut down on simple time with Him.  That is not good and while the Lord has used me to do many good things, none of that matters if I am not personally growing in love and holiness, cf. I Corinthians 13.

2) Helping teach the Kindergarten Sunday School class for part of the summer.  This is just for pure fun and to spend time with some these great kids.  Talk about a nice change of routine!

3) To make some progress getting back into physical shape.  Enough said.   No excuses from the pressures of having to get a sermon done. 

4) To visit with some of the "regular" members.  Most of my time is spent with a few kinds of folks in the church:  the officers, visitors, some undergrads, and those in need or crisis.  Neglected in the mix are the vast majority of you who are just plugging away, by God's grace.  So don't be surprised if I call or email you for a walk or a lunch or a coffee or a home visit.  Let's catch up.  

5) Some miscellaneous writing and administrative projects, such as finally getting several booklets put out in the foyer (public domain works or my own); developing a "fellows" program for undergrads heading into ministry; and perhaps do some writing or start a blog.  Maybe.  I know, I know, real cutting edge.

6) Get in touch with some old friends to whom I should say "thank you" for being in my life but have neglected due to the busyness here.

7) Finally, celebrate our 20th anniversary by farming the girls out and getting away for a bit as a couple.

Again, I mention all that to all of you, so that you would pray for me not to be lazy with this change of routine, but to take advantage of this wonderful break Brian and the Session is giving me.   Pray I would be a more effective pastor and preacher by the end of it, for the sake of the Kingdom and for God's glory.  In the meantime, see you all Sunday!  ~ Pastor H