_Interim Pastor's Ponderings

    February is "Heart Month" (it's the month with Valentine's Day and all the heart-shaped valentines and all.  A bit cutesy, but easy to remember!).  Obviously, I have a somewhat different perspective on it after my cardiac bypass surgery in 2007.  (Have you seen your doctor recently?  Watching your diet?  Exercising at least 30-45 minutes three or four times a week?)  Still,  all the publicity about "Heart Month" got me to thinking about what is as the heart of a congregation.  Sharing the Gospel of God's love is the central core of a church.  Everything arises from it and everything should serve it.

   Worship is often the first thing we think of, from the reading and preaching of the gospel message of hope, life, salvation, justice, and peace through the music and singing and the prayers, all clearly devoted to expressing our commitment to the Good News of God's love.  But the other things we do serve the gospel, too.  Our Christian Education program both shares the gospel with our children and youth and helps them grow up to be able to share it themselves.  The Deacons and their ministries of care for members and of care and service to the community reflect our calling to share the gospel with love and compassion in tangible ways as well.  This congregation id deeply involved in ministries to alleviate hunger from supporting Food Pantries and the Food Giveaway and the Weekend Backpack program and on to Heifer International, taking very seriously Jesus' call to fee the hungry.  Our choir, choir director, and liturgists can direct our hearts to God from quiet contemplation to heart-thrilling glory.  Even the Trustees demonstrate the gospel by making our building available to outside groups and community organizations.  Everything we do should rejoice in the good news and share it.

   A great thing at MCC has been the "team t-shirts" that so many people have been wearing for church functions (and especially visible at the CROP Walk!).  They have an image of the church on the back, but on the front there is a a line which came up during our congregational self-study.  Someone once called us "The little church with the big heart."  So on the front is a heart with a cross and that phrase.  Those shirts really embody the pride and joy and the spirit of this place and the caring and welcome to be found here beautifully.  And not just in February!

   So this "Heart Month," take care of your heart... and take care of someone else's!

In Christ
David