Coming up Sunday, January 25

On Sunday we continue our series on Jesus' parables with a look at the Parable of the Two Sons, found only in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 21:28-32). This parable, about a father's request to his two sons -- one of whom says he will, but he doesn't; one who says he won't, but he does -- seems on its face to highlight a lesson which we might call "Actions speak louder than words."

However, I think that the parables have multiple layers and multiples lessons for us. So we will dig deeper on Sunday morning to consider another lesson that this parable might offer (and one which I probably don't talk enough about as the preacher): the significance of our personal, and private, relationship with God. This interpretation of the parable will draw heavily on another passage in Matthew (and again, one that seems to only appear in Matthew) about prayer (Matt. 6:5-8).

Also on Sunday, as part of Sharing Our Faith, we will emphasize the gift of sharing our time with our church family by serving on our standing committees. Bureaucracy is not anyone's favorite subject -- and it's not mine either -- but it is a good way for a church to put faith into action. [I could change the names -- other churches have -- to things like "action groups" or "mission teams," but that's just changing the name, putting old wine in new wine skins. I like to be honest about what things are.]

I hope that you will volunteer to serve on one -- or if you have time and the interest, more than one -- committee this year. Your input and service will improve all of our experiences at Central Christian, and benefit others beyond our congregation. Here is a little about what our committees do:

• Worship: helps to plan the worship schedule, and especially focuses on special worship services during Holy Week and Advent
• Christian Education: directs our education program for all ages, especially focusing on how we share our faith with young people through "Children's Own Worship" on Sundays and Vacation Bible School
• Membership: plans activities that enhance our lives together as a church family; most often this takes the form of planning social activities like dinners, but also thinks of ways that we can be more fully church together
• Evangelism: this is a new committee, formerly paired with Membership, that develops how we share the good news about Jesus Christ with others (since it's new, there's no telling what good ideas may come out of this group)
• Property: oversees the maintenance of the property and church building
• Stewardship and Finance: plans the annual pledge campaign and puts together the annual church budget
• Personnel: also a new committee, formerly under Property, that directs the congregation's professional relationships with its employees (except in some cases, with the pastor); given the growing complexity in tax and employment issues, we need a group of people with experience to deal with these issues

As I've mentioned elsewhere, none of these committees meets monthly, but only as necessary (as determined by the committee itself). You do not have to serve on a committee to offer input and suggestions; also, you do not have to serve on a committee for a committee to ask you to help out (it's a two-way street, after all). But I hope that you will.