INSTALLATION AND BONDING SERVICE: OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION

Sermon Notes, September 20, 2015

Rev. George Stevenson and Rev. Garry McGlinchy

            Sunday was the Installation and Bonding service for the McGlinchy family, with Assistant District Superintendent George Stevenson officiating.  There were ceremonies and presentations, and a potluck dinner followed.

            Rev. Stevenson’s part of the sermon was titled “We Have a Mission,” and the scripture was Matthew 28:19, the Great Commission.  Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit.  On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came, and that was the beginning of the Church.  God is still in charge of the Church. What is the purpose of the Church?  To bring people to Jesus; win them, disciple them, and train them to bring others to Him. Rev. Stevenson challenged us to bring five new families to the church this year.  He reminded us that we are a missional church, reaching out globally as well as locally..

            Rev. McGlinchy’s part of the sermon was titled “We Have a Vision,” and the scripture was Acts 2:42-47, which describes the beginning of the Early Church.  We should take a good look at our past: the glory days and the days of darkness.  We can strengthen our foundation, (sometimes repairs last better than the original) and do a restart, learning from the past.

            We need to look at where we are today.  We can get to know one another, taking small attainable steps instead of trying huge leaps immediately, and add a little at a time.  Some things we are getting ready to do are Crisis Care Kits that go to our distribution center and from there to wherever they are needed globally to help people who have lost everything in natural disasters, etc. We plan to make Evangi-hats, to tell the story of redemption in places where the Bible is not allowed.  We can collect canned goods and add them to local food pantry ministries.  We can collect socks, blankets and jackets for the homeless.  We need to find ways that we can reach our community where other churches aren’t.  We could open our doors for Celebrate Recovery and mid-week Bible studies. We could partner with other churches in some activities.  “When churches get together, the community gets better."

            We need to be a Center of Holy Fire, of Holy Healing, of Holy Redemption, of Holy Grace, of Holy Love.  A place where we can bring the sick—it’s not the well that need a doctor, but the sick; not the righteous, but the sinners. (Luke 5:31-32)  We need to recapture our Nazarene Identity—living a holy life—and reclaim the Image of God.  Let it shine wherever we are!

            Looking ahead, we would like to have a sense of permanence: property of our own, with space for Sunday School rooms, Vacation Bible School and Children’s Ministries, a Youth Center, Upward Sports and community events.  Culpeper’s population as of 2013 is 17,143.  We should reach 172 of them by 2020, with 120 in Worship.  We could have a bilingual service.  We could have a bigger venue by 2017, and move into our own church building, or at least be in the process, by 2017.  We should become a church that plants churches.