"Finishing Touches"

When I went to college, the first item of business was to get moved in to my dorm room.  It was usually a picture of mayhem. There would be people in every nook and cranny of every staircase in every level all the way to the parking lot. A mixture of parents and students would fill the halls. Boxes and pillows intermingled with books and second hand sofas filled the dorm halls. Eventually, all would be crammed and stowed in rooms that would become your home for nine months.

But not all was done!!

Each roommate would begin to personalize their section of the room. I would hang up my favorite poster including Dick Butkus-Chicago Bears-(even though I was a Vikings fan) and place my girlfriend’s picture (Tammy-yes the same who become my wife) next to that of my family on the top shelf of the little study cubicle. I then would arrange my stash of food in the order of how easy is was to find. The best stash was hidden from marauding friends that were always looking to score a quick bite to satisfy an omnipresent hunger!

Finally, when all this was completed I would echo the words of Genesis 1:31 “And God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”

Finishing touches were not the first efforts of the process of getting moved in to my room. They came in the end when I had figured out where I wanted things to be.

This memory of mine reminds me of where we are with our Legacy project. We are just about complete with the project. We are entering the phase of finishing touches. We make an adjustment here and make tweak there to get the “lay of the land”! We are anxious to begin to use it and have begun to do so as the project has allowed. Classes have begun to meet in areas of the new building and the nursery has been put to use. This past vwSunday (Sept. 22), our fellowship hall will be used for coffee after church for the first time. The Sunday of dedication has been set for November 24 where we will celebrate God’s faithfulness and the unity of His people who “had a mind to build”. We will dedicate this building to the glory of God and to the continued mission of the ministry of First Reformed to be a light for Jesus Christ.

Finishing touches! Are we done?

Like a good craftsman who constantly seeks to improve his skill we will continue to seek the Lord’s guidance in ministering to our community and world. Our task is not done until the Lord declares it so!

May we be encouraged by the opportunity and mission God has given us. The Legacy Building project has given us a reminder of what we are meant to be as a community of believers.

Enjoy the moving in!  See you in Church!

Blessings!

Pastor Wayne

The church is in full fall mode as we prepare to set in motion the educational programs of the fall.  The opportunities to serve as teachers, youth sponsors, power point volunteers, kitchen help, STARS (our after school program) volunteers and countless other areas of the church abound. Take a look in the church bulletin and pick your area of service!

First Reformed’s motto is “Impacting Lives for Christ”.

Sometimes the opportunity to be a student of our motto literally comes to your doorstep. Last week Sunday, a family of four stood at the entrance to our south parking lot with a large sign asking for work.  What is a Christian to do?  What do we do at First Reformed?

I spotted this situation as I walked home to help host Connections, our post high young adult class. Following a quick conversation of broken English that revealed a story that I have heard many times before, I decided to see what we could do to provide legitimate assistance. 

The following is written in the words of one of those young adults, Taylor Van Wyk, when I asked for a volunteer to assist me with this family. I believe Taylor’s response gives an insight into the struggle we all have when our calling as followers of Christ comes knocking at our front door.

“Pastor Wayne walked through his kitchen doorway on August 18 and stated that he will be back in a little bit because he had a “special situation” that he had to go investigate. At this exact moment, Connections for post high students, was taking place in his home. Before he could explain what he was doing, my mind was reeling about what could possibly be the special situation here in Sully. It turns out, in the south parking lot, there was a family traveling back from New York to California and was asking for work around the area. After Pastor Wayne communicated with this family, he came back and said he was bringing food out to them. I was blessed with the opportunity to carry water bottles and pop to this family. My heart was filled with happiness after having an encounter with the little girl of the family. Pure innocence was written across her face as she had no idea why I was giving her the bottles of water. After reflecting on what I had just experience , I felt that the most frustrating part in a situation of helping the homeless or those in need is that one will never have the answer if it was a hoax or whether they were truly in need of our help. However, who are we to judge. This brings me to a couple verses. Luke 14: 12-14 states, Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors.  For they will repay you by inviting you back.  Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” I found this to be a fitting passage because instead of inviting them over, we brought our company to them and assisted to their needs. The greatest rewards come when you least expect them to as we are touching lives little by little. “

Taylor, I could not have said that any better!

The church exists for moments such as these, the expected and the unexpected, when we respond to being the hands and feet of Jesus. It is putting into practice the lessons of our Teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ!

Let us be prepared when our calling as a student of Jesus comes knocking at our door!

Blessings!

Pastor Wayne and Taylor Van Wyk

BUILDING GOD'S COMMUNITY

Dear Friends,

                We have finally put away the snow shovels and are ready for summer.  Last month’s snow has been replaced by humid summer nights!

                The summer season ushers in gardens, ball games and family vacations among some things.

                Our church also experiences the evidence of change around us.  The Legacy project outside progress can be measured in bricks – literally brick by brick.  Each weekday morning one can check on the progress of the bricklayers as they cover the outside walls in mortar and brick.  It’s exciting to see the accomplishments of this phase of our addition.

                If you venture into the newest portion of the church, the sheet rockers are just about complete with their work.  The size of the rooms are beginning to take shape and are awaiting their personality as the painters will soon be covering them in color.  The carpet has been ordered!

                Our Sunday morning worship has also seen change.  You have probably noticed that we have been having different individuals assisting in the call to worship and announcements. We have been blessed by various personal insights of those who lead us in this portion of our worship service.  We are witness to the body of Christ developing their gifts.

                The upcoming months will also introduce three interns working in various capacities in the church.  Clayton Larson will be doing calling and preaching (especially when I’m on vacation), Heidi Schulte will be leading our Bible study ministries and Katelyn Roozeboom will be using her gifts of clerical administration.  What a gift First Reformed is giving to their young people as we help mentor them and they bless us with their gifts.  This is being an example of a teaching church in its finest application.

                As we note the changes that we are experiencing I must also note the closure of Diana Scandridge as our Youth and Education Director.  Diana has accepted a position in the Lynnville-Sully school district and will complete her duties on August 9, 2013.  We have been blessed by her leadership the past three years and will miss her!

                At the same time, we now begin the process of seeking another individual God has planned for us as Youth and Education Director.  A search committee has been formed as we begin this journey in staffing for the future.

                I ask you to pray for the search process and for the right person that will continue to build on the spiritual goals that have been laid out for us.

                May you enjoy the summer God has planned for you!

In Christ,

Pastor Wayne 

"Spiritual Tombstones?"

Dear Friends,

            In 2000, Arnold L. Cook wrote a book entitled, “Historical Drift: Must My Church Die?”

            I was mightily impacted by the observations of this author.

            One of the statements that he noted was that throughout history, vision dims, core values shift and passion fades in organizations.  Cook was of the opinion that all Christian organizations should be scrapped every 100 years and start over.

            Historical drift is the tendency of churches to move away from their original moorings over time.  He places the blame not on the organizations but on the leaders! “Whether a Christian organization thrives or dies depends on the caliber of its leaders!

            That really got my attention as I considered my role as a pastor and the boards I serve on.

            He noted that historical drift can be reversed but it is dependent on a spiritual revival that touches every aspect of our personal life hence our church life!

            At the root of “historical drift” in denominations and churches is the subtle and not so subtle compromises of Biblical authority, theology and church doctrines and spiritual discipline.

            As I reflected on what this means for the churches I have served, it propelled me and drove me to be the best I could be as a pastoral leader albeit with imperfections.

            I am passionate about not letting things die because of apathy or lack of commitment.

            Churches and people do not need to become spiritual tombstones used only as references to the past.

            Sadly, however, sometimes we are content to be spiritually lifeless and excuse our way to the grave.

            As we build the Legacy project, let us be reminded this is a statement on how we will do ministry as a church.  We will not be content to use a building that is seen and not heard.

            I can envision the congregation using this building until it wears out and needs to be built again!  It is in this way we find the enthusiasm of serving our God by letting him touch and use us in our corporate and personal moments!           

            Let us review every aspect of our church life in Christ and refresh ourselves with the purpose of why First Reformed Church will live!

In Christ,

Pastor Wayne

Let Us Give Our Best

Let Us Give Our Best

Dear Friends,

            The other day I happened to be in the kitchen with my wife when she was cleaning out the refrigerator.  I do not usually take part in this event but I stood next to her giving her moral support (and an occasional guiding word of advice).  Doing her best to ignore me, she methodically went about her task.

            As plastic containers were opened, sniffed and identified as edible contents, I noticed she was throwing out a few egg yolks.  I asked, “Why?” and she informed me that they had blood specks in them.  I said, “So, why does that make a difference? You mix them up and fry them anyway!”

            She responded that when she had grown up on the farm her grandma always told her that is what you did with blood specks in the eggs.

            Well, I wanted to find out if that was true or not (not doubting my wife, of course!)  Wanting to find out the origin of that kitchen wisdom, I went to my trusty computer and Googled “eggs”.

            What I found was a wealth of information.  I basically learned that the blemishes that I was referring to came from fertilized eggs and basically you could eat them if you wanted but if they were sold they would be a grade B egg.

            Triumphantly going back to the kitchen, I proceeded to tell my wife that it really didn’t make a difference or not if you ate eggs with blood specks in them.

            Her response was less than I had anticipated.  She turned back to me and proceeded to throw another egg yolk away and said, “That is nice honey!”

            Later that day, I was doing my devotions which included verses from Jude 24 & 25. “Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory…”

            What struck me in this scripture is how the word blemish is referred to.

            It made me realize that my wife was throwing those eggs away because she wanted the best for her family – an egg yolk without blemish!

            I was further reminded that God gave us his Son, Jesus Christ so that we could be introduced to our Heavenly Father without blemish!  Christ had given his life and taken our blemishes, our sins and made us presentable before God.

            As we enter this Thanksgiving season, may our giving represent our appreciation for all that God has done for us.

            Let us give Him our best!

            It is a time to give back.  It is a time to teach our children and children’s children that we give our best, without blemish or excuse to our Heavenly Father.

            Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Wayne

            

Build Your House for the Lord

Dear Friends,

            “I’m ready to see some dirt piles on the church yard,” I exclaimed to my wife recently “and a nice big hole in the ground to go along with it!”

            Of course I was referring to the much anticipated beginning of our Legacy Building project.

            I also know that behind the scenes of beginning the first stages of this project was a mountain load of paperwork, loan provisions and engeneering templates that needed to be in order before the dirt work could begin.

            I’m also anticipating that in the very near future the grean light will be given for the go ahead for this much anticipated first step.

            God does teach patience!

            In the meantime, I have reflected on the tremendous effort of our volunteers that keep the ministries and programs of this church going.

            It indeed is a team effort!

            If you come around 1^st Reformed on a Wednesday night you will find the church humming from 3:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.  There is barely a space in the church that doesn’t have activity in it.  In fact, we are out of room.  We have two youth classes meeting in homes and an adult elective class meeting in another home. 

            The STARS after school program involves 31 children.  Add to this choir, praise band and team practice, misc. meetings and such and you have a church crackling with energy!

            Back to the dirt pile and volunteers.

            God blesses those who use their gifts for him.  Thank you to all who teach Sunday School, lead and give of themselves in any way to the building up of the body of Christ.  I would miss many people if I tried to describe all the tasks and duties that are done by everyone.  On behalf of the church, I want you to know you are appreciated.

            The anticipated dirt pile I refer to reminds me of how we will be using our added facilities next year on.  Diana, our Youth and Education Director, and I cannot wait to see what has been envisioned to be used in expanding our current ministries and the space in which to do things better.

            May we build our house for the Lord and may we build to wear it out for Him!

            It is great to be on God’s team as a servant worker for the Lord of the harvest! 

            Stay tuned for a dirt report!!

NOTE:  Since the writing of this article, the digging has begun as of September 23.  Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!

In Christ,

Pastor Wayne

Keeping Your Eyes on Christ

September 1, 2012

Dear Friends,

            This past week I spent several days gathering documents to complete our church’s loan application for the Legacy Project.

            One of the documents that I was looking for was the By Laws of the church.  After an afternoon of searching countless minute books and records, I found out that back in 1937, our church’s Articles of Incorporation and By Laws were merged as one document.

            If I have bored you with this paper search, bear with me for just a little longer in my transition.

            One fact as I read countless years of consistory notes that covered decades of church existence is that periodically the question was asked “What is our mission as a church?”

            As I returned these historical minutes back to the vault, that question echoed in my mind.

            My mission as your pastor is to clearly and passionately remind us at First Reformed of our mission as a church.

            If I don’t, I have failed first and foremost in helping define and develop our vision and our reason to exist.

            What is our mission?  Look no further than our mission statement.  “Impacting Lives for Christ.”

            I know there are many theological variances that can bring this statement into further depth but in a nutshell, we exist to “Impact people for Christ.”

            We do this first by being committed to our creator God and responding to His love.

            We do this by living lives for Christ.  Being the hands and feet of Jesus!

            Digging into all those minutes reminded me of the ways we have done mission in the past.  Thus, for present and future generations of this church, we have to be clear and ever diligent as we live our mission statement.

            As we do so it becomes clear that ministry is a marathon.  It’s not how you start that matters but how you end!

            Let’s keep our eyes on Christ!  Impacting Lives for Christ!

           

God is good!

Pastor Wayne Sneller