Jody's Journal

October 4, 2007

Dear Family and Friends at the Kirk,

We are enjoying an exciting fall at the Kirk. Wednesday Night Live is in full swing. Disciple Bible Study classes are going strong on Mondays and Wednesdays. A Centering prayer group is forming. The New Orleans Mission group has returned from what I’m told was an outstanding week. Sundays are alive with enriching Sunday School for all ages. Youth groups are off and running. Throughout the week there are choirs, meetings of members engaged in ministry, scouts, community groups, and so much more. In homes small groups gather to develop relationships with one another and God. Members of the Kirk are working football parking lots to raise money for mission and music programs. In October many of our visitors will participate in Exploring the Kirk (the new member’s class). We will begin training the officers you just elected. Sharon and I are excited to be leading a Marriage Enrichment Retreat for members of the Kirk and White Memorial. It is wonderful to be a part of a congregation where members give their energy, love and commitment to the ministries of Jesus Christ.

This past Sunday we began Stewardship season. Someone suggested that we call it Pledge season. Perhaps they are right. It is the season we are asking you to pledge yourself financially to the work of Christ through the Kirk. The theme chosen this year is “Got Commitment?” The stewardship committee wants us to think about our giving as an expression of our commitment to the causes of Christ. Commitment is an outward expression of an inward desire that we want to see prosper. Ask a college coach about the role of commitment in the success of a team. Ask a healthy couple about the role commitment plays in their relationship. The same is true for our relationship to the church. When Jesus invited people to follow him, he asked them to make a deep commitment. He talked about discipleship in terms of counting the cost and taking up crosses. He knew that if the Kingdom of God was to prosper, it would take deep commitment from people who cared. I want to thank the Stewardship Committee for getting me to think about commitment. I encourage you to do the same when you read the signs around the Kirk that ask, “Got Commitment?”

I know one committed group at the Kirk are the members of the Long Range Planning Taskforce. They have met faithfully for about a year now and are almost done with guiding us through the process of discerning our immediate future. They will help us set priorities among the goals and will guide the Session in the steps to implement them. I want to thank them for their commitment and work.

Grateful for your commitments,

Jody