Update: Reopening Process (July)

City Church Family:

In June we began a process of reopening for in-person worship gatherings by inviting one community to attend the livestream of our worship service each Sunday. As communicated last week, our plan was to advance to phase two in July. However, we learned over the weekend that a church member who attended the June 21st worship service tested positive for COVID. Out of an abundance of caution we cancelled the worship service this past Sunday as Pastor Jason live-streamed a Scripture reflection instead.

We have since made the decision to hold off on advancing to phase two of our reopening process at this time. Beginning Sunday, July 12th we will return to inviting one community group each Sunday to attend the livestream of our 10:30 a.m. worship service. The goal for the month of July is to keep attendance under 25. The updated schedule through the first Sunday of August is outlined below.

July 5th - Worship service participants only
June 12th - Trinity Vicinity CoGro
July 19th - Cool Spring CoGro
July 26th - Kennett Square CoGro
August 2nd - Newark CoGro

On the week your group is invited to attend, we ask that you inform your community group leaders if you plan to attend no later than Friday of that week. If you are not connected to a community group and desire to attend one of the services, please email Margie Comanda and we will be glad to make that happen.

We ask you to stay home if:

• You are high-risk for contracting COVID-19

• You have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath, or if you are sick at all

• You have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

If you feel unsafe about returning to in-person worship at this time, or if you are uncomfortable with the guidelines that we will implement (see below), please do not hesitate to stay home and join the livestream of the service. 

Below are some of the guidelines we will implement to promote safety:

• The front doors and sanctuary doors will be propped open.

• Individuals age thirteen (13) and up are required to wear a cloth face covering to enter and remain inside (recommended but not required for children ages 2-12). Face coverings will be available for those who do not have one.

• Hand sanitizer will be available.

• Social distancing of at least 6ft will be required. Seating in the sanctuary will be arranged accordingly. Family members of the same household may remain together.

• Children must remain with their parent/guardian at all times. There will be no physical City Church Kids ministry (including nursery).

• Those leading in the service will remove face coverings only when singing or speaking from the stage.

• Offering baskets will not be passed; we will continue to encourage online giving. 

• Printed worship guides will not be distributed; we will continue to provide an online version.

• We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in a safe manner starting on July 19th.

I know we all long for the day when we will be able to experience Sunday worship as we once did. Until that day, we must remain patient and flexible. God has sustained us as a church family during this crisis. We have every reason to trust that he will continue to do so as we enter the next phase. 

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Jason

Resources for Discussing Race with Children

In the City Church Kids video last week (see above), I talked a bit about the discussions of race and repentance that have happened in our house in the past week, and I read one of our favorite books, God's Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell. 

I also wanted to share a couple lists of resources for parents to continue these discussions at home. This Google Doc was written by Pastor Rob Corwin from Faith Presbyterian (a church in our presbytery). It has some suggestions for discussing race with your children through a biblical framework, with a list of resources for further reading. 

This link is a collection of five books on race and the gospel, curated by Quina Aragon. Don't miss the note that one of the books (The Gospel in Color) is currently available as a free download from the publisher using the coupon code in the article.

Laura Williams, City Church Kids Coordinator

Reopening Process (June)

City Church Family:

In June we will begin a process of reopening for in-person worship gatherings. While we are eager to resume gathering once again for this cherished and formative practice of our faith, I want to begin with a word of caution. The process of reopening will be gradual and include multiple phases. We want to prioritize safety as a demonstration of our love for one another as well as for our neighbors.

Our staff and elders are strategically thinking and planning beyond the first phase, however, the plan outlined below is for the initial phase in June. Next month we will provide an updated plan for the second phase in July.

The Plan for June

Beginning Sunday, June 7 we will invite one community group each Sunday to attend the livestream of our 10:30 a.m. worship service. Our goal for the month of June is to keep attendance under 25. The schedule is as follows:

June 7th - Cool Spring CoGro
June 14th - Kennett Square CoGro
June 21st - Newark CoGro
June 28th - Trinity Vicinity CoGro

On the week your group is invited to attend, we ask that you inform your community group leaders if you plan to attend no later than Friday of that week. If you are not connected to a community group and desire to attend one of the services, please email myself or Margie Comanda and we will be glad to make that happen.

We ask you to stay home if:

• You are high-risk for contracting COVID-19

• You have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath, or if you are sick at all

• You have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

If you feel unsafe about returning to in-person worship at this time, or if you are uncomfortable with the guidelines that we will implement (see below), please do not hesitate to stay home and join the livestream of the service. 

Below are some of the guidelines we will implement to promote safety:

• The front doors and sanctuary doors will be propped open.

• Individuals age thirteen (13) and up are required to wear a cloth face covering to enter and remain inside (recommended but not required for children ages 2-12). Face coverings will be available for those who do not have one.

• Hand sanitizer will be available.

• Social distancing of at least 6ft will be required. Seating in the sanctuary will be arranged accordingly. Family members of the same household may remain together.

• Children must remain with their parent/guardian at all times. There will be no physical City Church Kids ministry (including nursery).

• Those leading in the service will remove face coverings only when singing or speaking from the stage.

• Offering baskets will not be passed; we will continue to encourage online giving. 

• Printed worship guides will not be distributed; we will continue to provide an online version.

• We will not celebrate the Lord’s Supper in this initial phase.

I know we all long for the day when we will be able to experience Sunday worship as we once did. Until that day, we must remain patient and flexible. God has sustained us as a church family during this crisis. We have every reason to trust that he will continue to do so as we enter the next phase. 

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Jason

Physical Health in a Time of Quarantine

The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted our lives by driving us into isolation and threatening our spiritual, mental, and physical health. Since God cares about the whole person, we do as well. So this week we are directing you to resources that can help you prioritize your spiritual, mental, and physical health during this challenging season of life. Today we focus on physical health resources.

We are all going stir crazy at this point. Confined to our houses and out of our normal routines, exercise is easy to neglect. When we see ourselves as whole people, we realize that the spiritual, mental, and physical aspects of life are interwoven. While good self-care begins with the spiritual life, our physical bodies are not unimportant. In addition to teaching that God made us body and soul, the Scriptures teach that God was found in human form (Phillipians 2:8), that we await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23), and that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). In other words, our physical health matters! Even if it’s simply going for a walk, we all need to find ways to prioritize physical exercise during this time of quarantine.

Check out the following videos made by Lahtesha Antonio as well as Jamie and Mandy Weaver from the City Church community. Join them in exercise (children included)!

Mental Health in a Time of Quarantine

The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted our lives by driving us into isolation and threatening our spiritual, mental, and physical health. Since God cares about the whole person, we do as well. So this week we want to direct you to resources that can help you prioritize your spiritual, mental, and physical health during this challenging season of life. Today we focus on mental health resources.

We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. The uncertainty and isolation caused by the COVID-19 crisis can be overwhelming, causing anxiety, fear, and grief. How do we process our emotions and protect our mental health during this time? We have compiled some tools and articles below that may be helpful as you navigate this question.

If you need assistance finding a mental health professional to talk to at this time, please email our director of community life, Margie Comanda, and she will be glad to direct you.

TOOLS
COVID-19 Crisis Navigation Tool

Reflections: Three-minute Reflections to Pause, Breathe, and Refocus

ARTICLES
Love and Lament in March Madness

How to Stay Emotionally Healthy During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus

Parenting in a Pandemic

Spiritual Health in a Time of Quarantine

The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted our lives by driving us into isolation and threatening our spiritual, mental, and physical health. Since God cares about the whole person, we do as well. So over the next few days we want to direct you to resources that can help you prioritize your spiritual, mental, and physical health during this challenging season of life. Today we start with spiritual health resources. Below are some recommendations:

DOWNLOAD OUR PRAYER GUIDE
We have created a prayer guide specifically for cultivating spiritual connection during this time of physical isolation. You can download it here.

WATCH OUR GUIDED PRAYER VIDEOS
We are posting a guided prayer video three times each week. You can watch the videos here.

PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE WORSHIP
Watch the livestream of our worship service on Facebook Live each Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

JOIN A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY GROUP
We have four virtual community groups that are currently meeting throughout the week. Contact Margie Comanda for info.

UNPLUG AND PRAY
Attempt to unplug for at least thirty minutes each day, going without media and electronics. Use the time for silence and solitude. Work on strengthening your prayer life. 

DOWNLOAD AN APP
Leverage technology for spiritual growth. Download an app to help build healthy spiritual rhythms into your life. Consider these:

Echo (prayer app)

Dwell (Bible listening app)

He Reads Truth/She Reads Truth (Bible reading app)

Read Scripture (Bible reading app)

READ A BOOK
Read a book to help cultivate your spiritual life. Here are a few suggestions:

A Theology of the Ordinary by Julie Canlis

Dwell by Barry Jones

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren

Practices of Love by Kyle David Bennett

Recapturing the Wonder by Mike Cosper

Renovate by Léonce Crump

The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley

The Possibility of Prayer by John Starke

Staying Connected

City Church Family: 

I pray that God is sustaining you during this difficult and uncertain time. A week has passed since I communicated our leadership’s initial response plan so I want to provide you with an update.

• We have decided to suspend our Sunday worship gathering for now and begin live streaming an abbreviated service each Sunday. The service will be streamed at 10:30 a.m. on our Facebook page and a recording will later be posted to our YouTube channel. Praise God for technology! We will make the worship guide available on Saturday along with a video for children created by our City Church Kids director, Laura Williams. 

• We have shifted from in-person community group meetings to virtual meetings. Again, praise God for technology! Staying connected to one another is vital given our current circumstances. All are welcome and encouraged to choose a virtual group to participate in for spiritual and relational encouragement. Community group leaders are eager to help you connect.

                            Cool Spring Group - Lilly Van Dyk

                            Kennett Group - Margie Comanda

                            Newark Group - MaryEllen Hobbs

                            Trinity Vicinity - Bethany Gregor

• We have cancelled all other church activities for March as well as the annual Easter egg hunt scheduled for April 11.

• We encourage you to continue to support the work of City Church financially. If you don’t already have an online giving account, you can create one here. Feel free to email our Treasurer, MaryEllen Hobbs, if you need help with creating an account. You can also mail checks to: City Church, PO Box 2504, Wilmington, DE 19805.

I want you to know that the elders, staff, and community group leaders are praying for you and working hard to find ways to provide care. If you are not currently connected to a community group, a church leader will be reaching out in the coming days to see how we might serve you.

If you are in need of financial assistance, or know someone who is, please send an email to mercyministry@citychurchwilmington.com. Our mercy ministry fund exists to demonstrate the mercy of Jesus during times of hardship. 

Also, this website, created by two members of our congregation, is a tremendous aid for learning about resources available in the City of Wilmington.

Not being able to gather together is challenging. I do believe this is an opportunity, however, to remember that we are united in Jesus as one family even when we are scattered. We like to say at City Church that the church is not a building, but a people. Now, more than ever, is the time to embody this together.

Let's stay connected,
Pastor Jason

Coronavirus Response

City Church Family: 

Given the growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), I want to communicate our leadership's response plan and offer a pastoral perspective. 

Response Plan
After talking with key leaders the past few days and meeting with the elder team this morning, we have made the decision to cancel Sunday worship for the next two weeks (3/15 & 3/22). The State of Emergency that was declared yesterday in Delaware advises the cancellation of non-essential public gatherings of 100 people or more. While we certainly believe the Sunday worship gathering is essential in the life of the church, we recognize there may be extraordinary occasions when it is in the best interest of the public good to not gather as we typically do. Our view is that this is one of those occasions. 

While COVID-19 is not a serious risk to most of the population, it is a deadly disease for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. The virus is extremely infectious and has spread so quickly in some places that it has overwhelmed medical capacity. We want to take precautions as a church to help prevent the possible spread of coronavirus in our communities. Cancelling Sunday worship for the next two weeks is the most significant way we can do that. 

We talk often at City Church about embodying God’s story in the everyday stuff of life. The everyday stuff of life in this season has brought us the threat of virus. While we will not gather for worship as we normally do the next two Sundays, we will still embody God’s story together. There are countless examples throughout history of God’s people adapting to undesirable circumstances in order to still be the Church. Even today in other parts of the world we have brothers and sisters in Christ who cannot assemble as we do for fear of persecution. Not gathering as we are accustomed to does not mean we cease to be the Church. Below are three ways we encourage you to embody God’s story together over the next couple of weeks:

1. Make worship a priority these next two Sundays by gathering in smaller groups: as a household, community group, or with neighbors. Use this time to pray, reflect on Scripture, and sing together. A worship guide and message from Pastor Jason will be made available for each Sunday.

2. Continue to meet as community groups over the next two weeks. Myself and Margie Comanda will communicate with group leaders later today.

3. Remember those who are most vulnerable (the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions) and care for them in appropriate ways.

Pastoral Perspective
I want to be clear about the motivation behind our decision. We have not made this decision out of fear; we have made it out of love. Self-protection is never to be the priority for the Christian. The gospel rearranges our priorities. The apostle Paul makes this clear in Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The gospel calls us to prioritize others. We find the vision and empowerment to do this as we look to Jesus, the One who prioritized us as he entered a world of sickness and sin. His sacrifice on the cross makes possible a salvation that anchors us in the hope of resurrection, freeing us from panic or fear. Christians have historically been known as people of faithful presence during times of crisis. I pray that God in his sovereignty will enable us to confidently share the hope of the gospel and to compassionately and courageously love our neighbors in the days ahead. 

Finally, if you have spiritual or physical needs during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our assistant pastor, Israel Ruiz, is coordinating these efforts on behalf of our pastoral and mercy ministry teams. You can email him here. Also, Lauren Bailes and Amy Norton, members of our church family, created this resource that may benefit food insecure families as schools close.

We will monitor the situation closely and send an update next Friday. Until then, pray for one another, for your neighbors, and for the glory of God to shine in the midst of uncertain times.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jason

City Church Kids Director

I am pleased to announce that Laura Williams has been hired as our City Church Kids Director! Laura and her husband, Ian, were among the first members received into membership at City Church almost 10 years ago. They have two children: Oni and Reya.

In this role, Laura will provide spiritual, relational, and logistical leadership for our children’s ministry as she collaborates with volunteers and families to form our children in God’s story.

I am personally very excited about the addition of Laura to the City Church staff. Laura has previously served on our staff as both administrator and treasurer. She brings the necessary character, vision, and skills for this next season of City Church Kids ministry.

Laura will step into the position in some capacity beginning December 1st and transition fully into the position in the New Year.

I also want to mention how grateful I am for Kristina Pansa serving in this position over the past six years. Kristina did a tremendous job helping to build our children’s ministry and establish such a solid foundation.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jason

Our New Vision

With our 10-year anniversary quickly approaching in 2020 (hard to believe!), this year has served as a strategic opportunity to think about the future. We recently introduced our new vision, mission, and values (see here). We also launched a sermon series to flesh it all out (listen here). And to top it off, we revealed a new church logo:

The new logo represents a transition into a new season in City Church’s life. The church building welcomes you in but the leaves draw your attention to what is happening outside the building as God’s diverse family brings life and renewal to the world.

I look forward to how God will continue to weave our diverse stories and backgrounds together so that we might live into his story over the coming months and years!

Pastor Jason

We Are Hiring: City Church Kids Coordinator

Kristina Pansa, who has served as our City Church Kids Coordinator for the past 6 years, will be stepping out of her role due to the responsibilities of her full-time job. We are grateful for all of her hard work in helping to build our children’s ministry in recent years.

With Kristina's impending departure from our staff, we are looking to fill the Kids Coordinator position. You can download the job description here. Please direct inquiries to Pastor Jason.

Meet our New Church Planting Resident

City Church Family:

In our congregational meeting this morning I announced that we have hired an assistant pastor who will serve as a church planting resident over the next two years.

Israel Ruiz will join our staff on October 1st. He and his wife Marietta, and their two children, Antonio and Lessley, will move to the area in mid-October. Israel is an ordained minister in our denomination who has served as an assistant pastor at a church in Virginia the past four years.

The funding for this residency will come largely from external sources. The money we invest in the residency will come from our savings so the impact on our general budget will be minimal.

In addition to preaching and administering the sacraments, Israel will focus on community outreach. He will be immersed in our ministry philosophy and introduced to a variety of relationships and resources to help him prepare for the possibility of church planting after the residency.

I am excited for the Ruiz family to join our church family as we seek to fill our diverse communities with the presence of Jesus in this next season of City Church’s life!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Jason

August is Sabbatical Month

Our endless activity exhausts us. We easily become enslaved to the daily grind of life and miss out on the freedom found in Christ. During August we take a church-wide sabbatical in which there are no scheduled activities other than our Sunday worship gatherings. The purpose of the sabbatical is to rest from our normal church activity so that we can slow down a bit for spiritual renewal. Think of it as an opportunity to rediscover freedom in Christ. 

The resources below are provided to help you make the most of the month. Copies of each can also be found on the Connect Table in the lobby at Sunday worship. 

August is Sabbatical Month

It's easy to get so busy and distracted in life that we are unable to locate ourselves. Of course we know where we are physically. But awareness of our spiritual location is another matter. We move through our days at a hectic pace. We fail to make time for reflection and spiritual growth. We lose sight of God as our reference point and wander without direction. All the while, our souls long to be spiritually located in Jesus. 

The month of August is sabbatical month at City Church. There are no scheduled activities other than our Sunday worship gatherings. The purpose of the sabbatical is to take a break from our normal activity in order to slow down for spiritual renewal. Think of it as an opportunity to locate yourself in reference to God.

The resources below are provided to help you make the most of the month. Copies of each can also be found on the Connect Table in the lobby at Sunday worship. 

May God meet you in deep ways this month and locate you in his presence. 

Philippians: A Summer Sermon Series

When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, it’s easier to surrender to cynicism than to fight for joy. Consider how naturally we grumble and complain when things get hard. We do so without much thought or effort. Nursing our bitterness and isolating ourselves from others might feel like an easier path, but it’s one that damages us along the way. Cynicism robs us of the joy and character formation that God intends for us in the life of faith.

The apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians exudes great joy, despite him writing it while under house arrest. If there was ever a time for cynicism, that might be it, right? Paul did not know what the future held—whether he would be released or executed. Yet, instead of giving in to cynicism, he displayed Christ-like resiliency and humility. How?

He was transformed by the gospel. The resiliency and humility that Jesus displayed by giving his life for others forever changed Paul’s life and introduced him to a new way of being human. But there’s more. Paul was enlivened by a partnership in the gospel. He knew that he was not alone in his suffering. The Philippians had his back. They were his partners in the work of the gospel. 

Our summer sermon series, “Partners in the Gospel,” is a series on the letter to the Philippians. May we experience deeper joy this summer as we nourish our togetherness in the gospel.

Indwell Scripture-Reading Tool

On the First Sunday of Advent we launched a new Scripture-reading tool that we developed called Indwell. Take a few minutes to watch the overview video above.

Be sure to also check out the Indwell resource page.

You can download a digital version of the Indwell guide from the resource page as well as pick up a printed copy from the Connect Table in the lobby.

Indwell: An Evening of Storytelling

We held our first Indwell evening on Saturday, December 9. The night included readings, carols, original music, and stories about the experience of indwelling (i.e., living inside) the Advent story in our own lives. There was also a time of open sharing. 

It was a beautiful night. We are thankful to all who read, sang, and shared so openly. We appreciate you inviting us to indwell God’s Story with you!

HERE is the program from the event.
Below are the two poems that were read:

"The Risk of Birth, An Advent Poem" by Madeleine L'Engle
This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out & the sun burns late.

That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honour & truth were trampled by scorn-
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by a comet the sky is torn-
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.
 

"Christmas Poem" by G.K. Chesterton
There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam;
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home.
The crazy stable close at hand,
With shaking timber and shifting sand,
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome.

For men are homesick in their homes,
And strangers under the sun,
And they lay their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done.

Here we have battle and blazing eyes,
And chance and honour and high surprise,
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the yule tale was begun.

A child in a foul stable,
Where the beasts feed and foam;
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home;
We have hands that fashion and heads that know,
But our hearts we lost---how long ago!
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome.

This world is wild as an old wife's tale,
And strange the plain things are,
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war;
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star.

To an open house in the evening
Home shall all men come,
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome.
To the end of the way of the wandering star,
To the things that cannot be and that are,
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.

Advent 2017

Advent is a word that means “coming” or “arrival.” It’s a four-week period leading up to Christmas in which we celebrate the first coming of Jesus and look forward to his promise to come again. The church calendar (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time) moves us through the year according to the story of Jesus' life.  Advent represents the opportunity for a fresh start since it's the beginning of the year in the church calendar. 

Cultivating our relationship with God can be difficult during Advent. It’s easy to grow distant from God while getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. Our hope is that this Advent season will be a time of spiritual renewal for you as you take time to indwell—to be at home in—the story of God’s redemption. 

Check out the resources and events below to help you indwell the story of Advent this month:

Resources
Indwell Scripture-Reading Guide
Daily Scripture Readings for Advent

Events
Indwell Storytelling Evening
Candlelight Christmas Service

God in the Uncertainty

At City Church, we love to remind each other of God's story of creation, fall, redemption, & renewal. We also strive to remind each other that God's story intersects with our own personal journey. Each Tuesday for the past 8 weeks, a City Church attender has be sharing a piece of their story on our blog of a time when this intersection was especially evident for them. The last story in this series comes from Rebecca Boyer-Andersen.

In another week my semester at UD will be starting up again, classes will resume, and I will be on my way to finishing a Master's degree in Education. I wish I could say this is part of some well-thought-out career transition, or the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, or something like that. But the truth is, I'm not really sure what I'm doing or where this is leading.  Oh, don’t worry, I do have a "story" I use in order to talk about this choice.

One thing I've learned in over half a century of living is that you have to have a story. This is sort of like when you're in college and well-meaning adults ask you what your major is, and what are you going to do with that. You have to have some justification for the direction you've chosen. This need persists after college, through job interviews with questions like: why do you want to come work for this company? or, where do you see yourself in five years?   The real answer may be that you just need a job-- any job-- and that you have no clue where you'll be in five years, but you need to show that you've thought about your career, have a plan, and that this job fits just perfectly into this plan in a way that will benefit your prospective employer. You have to have a story to tell.

For long stretches of my adult life, I have struggled with knowing what kind of work I should devote myself to and invest my time and energies in. I figured God has made everyone with some unique combination of talents, temperament, and passions-- so there must be some vocation that I am uniquely called to pursue.  Homeschooling my three kids was that calling for me when I was younger. All of my interests and talents seemed to mesh perfectly with the business of educating my kids at home. In addition, I was active in the Delaware homeschooling community, taught co-op classes, took on leadership roles, and formed great relationships with other Christian women. It was 15 years of feeling like I was made for this.

Then my kids grew up. And I needed to get a job to pay for all that college tuition. I went back to school to pursue another undergraduate degree, one that would hopefully get me paid employment. I finished a degree in Medical Technology the same year my oldest graduated from college. I got a job in a local lab, then went into industry to work in technical support, then moved into management. Honestly, none of these moves were that well thought-out. I stumbled into Medical Technology (most people had never even heard of this as a major), got my industry job after completely blowing the interview for a different job with the same company, and took the management job because I was starting to get bored and figured I'd try something new.  After a couple years in management,  I was so stressed out by my job I knew I wanted out, but saw no graceful exit strategy. I needed a story, an explanation, a justification for leaving. I settled on grad school. And it worked out well,  my exit. My team was happy for me, I had a great going-away experience, and everyone congratulated me on following my dream. Only trouble was-- I wasn't really sure I was doing the right thing.

For the past 10 or 15 years, I am continually asking God to tell me what I should be doing with my life in the world of adult work. Should I be practical and just look for a job with a good salary and benefits? Should I look for work that will help people & benefit humanity somehow? Should I try to figure out what I'm the best at and do that? I always knew my homeschooling dream job wasn't going to last forever.  But I couldn't believe that I was created to be a great homeschooler for 15 years, and then just wander aimlessly for the next 30 or 40. There had to be something I was supposed to do next.

But honestly, I haven't really gotten much of an answer.  Well, I take that back.  I haven't gotten the big, vision-for-my- life answer, but I have gotten lots of smaller answers:  Go there. Now go there. Now do this. It's just really difficult for me to take direction like that because I long to know the endgame.  What's the goal? What's the big picture?

I try to think of Abram being told by God to "Go from your country ...  to the land that I will show you." Abram didn't know where he was going, he just went. I'm not very good at that kind of obedience. I always want to make things happen. I need a plan. I need to be in control.

The thing is, I can see the good God had for me along the paths I followed only by looking backward. No experience ever goes to waste.  God had something in mind. However, I just can't see the goal at the time.

I've always been the kind of person who runs at any opportunity that looks interesting, or useful, or like it would be "good for me."  A number of those kinds of opportunities have presented themselves recently, so I'm trying to resist wanting to "make something happen" that will nail down the direction I'm going in. I'm trying to listen for God's voice, and not the voice inside my head. I'm trying to actually wait until I hear him say, “Ok, now go do that.” And I'm trying to be ok with not knowing the big picture.  So that when he says go, I can just go.

Pastor Jason's Sabbatical Recap

Pastor Jason shared a few reflections from his sabbatical in last Sunday's worship service. Below is a recap...

The word “sabbatical” comes from a Hebrew word which means to “cease” or “rest.” It's an extended period of time for physical rest, spiritual renewal, and overall refreshment. I'm happy to report that I experienced all of the above during my sabbatical this summer!

Before sabbatical I felt fatigued. An extended break from the pressures of everyday ministry was healing for my mind, body, and soul. The opportunity to get more rest and exercise was incredibly beneficial. I return feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Sabbatical was also life-giving for us as a family. It was a joy to travel and spend so much time together. Don't get me wrong... we discovered early on that you don't cease to be a sinner just because you're on sabbatical. Spending lots of time together makes getting on each other's nerves inevitable! But those were occasions for us to lean into the gospel and grow in Christ-likeness. A family highlight was our "Sabbatical Feast" that we enjoyed together to close out sabbatical. We feasted, shared our favorite memories, and gave thanks to God for his goodness. We made many memories together this summer that will not be forgotten. 

A personal highlight was my prayer retreat that allowed me to get away for a few days to experience God's presence through Scripture reading, prayer, solitude, and study. God met me during this time. I took time to reflect on the past seven years of ministry, to grow in self-awareness, to seek vision for the future, and to discern what changes I need to make by God's grace in order to grow as a disciple of Jesus, husband, father, pastor, and leader. 

I can't express how grateful we are as a family for the gift of sabbatical this summer. I want to thank all of the City Church leaders who stepped up in various ways to compensate for my absence. I want to especially thank Wayne Pansa and Margie Comanda for carrying a heavier load so that I could disengage from ministry for a season. I'm confident that my sabbatical will bear fruit for me, my family, and our congregation for years to come. Thank you for your prayers!

Pastor Jason