Dear Partners in Ministry,
Greetings in the name of the Risen Christ during this Easter season!
For those of you who were either at the special congregational meeting at the beginning of April or have watched the video of the meeting online and have offered questions and feedback, thank you very much. We value the input and questions that many have offered as it helps us to look at things from many different viewpoints. Those of us on the building committee as well as the church council believe that it was.a great first step.
We are blessed here at GTLC with many wonderful year round members, seasonal members, as well as seasonal friends who call this place home while they are here. Whether it’s year round, 6 months, 3 months, or even a few weeks, each of us adds to the unique ministry we share together. This distinct multi seasonal flavor means that any and all meetings and decisions along the way bring unique challenges as to when is best to have official meetings as well as when any construction can take place. n order for any of these hopes and dreams to become reality within the next two years we need to approach this with steps that allow for things to move forward and also have the input and thoughts of all our members.
Over the next several months here is what we are proposing to accomplish:
- Allow for questions to be asked that you may have not had the time or opportunity to do so. Any and all questions should be sent via email to gtlcbuilding@gmail.com. As questions come in, they will be answered in a format for the entire congregation to see and hear. Please understand that the answer may take a few days or weeks to answer as we want to give the most accurate and detailed answers that we can.
- We will be producing video messages that will both inform and inspire as we move forward in our process. These will share ministry stories, how a building project could impact and expand ministry opportunities, as well as answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
- After this time to gather more information, answer questions, and sharing stories, we are targeting a January 2018 congregational meeting to make motions about the direction of this building project.
So what can you be doing as we prepare for the months ahead? First and foremost, be in prayer for the leadership of the congregation as we seek God guidance in all of this. Second, be prayerful how you might be able to make a commitment financially to this project, it will take each of us offering sacrificial giving to make this come to fruition. Finally, consider how you might be a part of making space for new guests, especially during the next few years of “season.” Three services will be a really for us January through Easter for at least two more years, where might you be able to step out of your comfort zone to make a place for others to experience what you love about this church? We all realize that the 9:30 a.m. service is the most popular. If that is the case for you, then you can imagine it might be for guests as well. Are we going to be willing to shift our pattern and preference to another service to make room for others to find there way here?
Those are the challenges that come with positive growth. These are also the opportunities that God has place before us to impact our community and more importantly the Kingdom of God. In the next several months we will have the ability to actively live out our mission statement: “Growing in God’s Love, Sharing the Good News.”
Imaging the possibilities as we move forward together, led by the Spirt of the Risen Christ.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Sean on behalf of the Church council and Building Team