There isn't a week go by ...

There isn't a week go by, I mean it has been happening every week of this past year … for weeks and weeks … for months and months.

First it was a distant smile, then it was a short conversation in the parlor, then it was a hug, followed by an invitation to share a meal. First it was a conversation about life, a conversation about our love of God and family, and it is a discussion about the trials of life and trails we face from deep within. Now it is about the way we structure our worship experiences, it’s about offering multiple opportunities and styles for worship. It is about our EMS Worship (Early Morning Service) and the contemplative style of coming into the presence of God. Now it is about new ways to gather together and fellowship with others. Now it is about new ways of reaching out to those who need to experience both friendship and God. Now it is about The Bike Riding Trail Group, The Theater Trail Group, The Youth Outings and Study Trail Group, “The Shack” Trail Group, The Panera Sunday School Group, The Golf Trail Group, and the Ice Cream Trail Group. In the future it could be about The Parenting Trail Groups, The Sign Language Trail Group, The Bible Study Trail Group, The Gourmet Cooking Trail Group, and a host of other opportunities to gather together and travel the Trails with others.

It is happening every week.

Something in the church has caught our eye, or warmed our heart, or stirred our mind. And we want to be involved. We bring our money; we bring our friends; we bring our broken selves to this place we call "sanctuary."
We bring ourselves and we give. We give in order to be involved, even when the involvement isn't directly our own. We want to be a part of this place where the spirit of the Living Lord is active and alive. We give because we have seen the radiant smile on the face of a child racing to meet her mother saying "Can we stay?” or “When we come back?” Is it possible that someone can wish every day were Sunday? We give because in this place we have been nurtured in our spiritual life more than we ever thought possible. We give because of a sermon that has set our life on a new course. We give because the church is willing to take the broken life of a dear friend and helped make that life whole again. We give because blind people in Africa are given sight, hungry people in Haiti are fed, and neighbors around the corner rely on us doing our part to make a difference in their lives. We give because there are others who are in need, and we have been so blessed by God.
We give to be involved. We give in order to unleash energies for good in the world.
You see … something is happening at Rockport …

God is happening here!

Think on these things during this summer season. Our giving is important because it makes a statement about who we are. This year in particular, I encourage us to step up our Stewardship giving because God is happening here, and we want to be a part of the action!
I invite you to make a statement about who you are, about what is important, and about how being involved in the awesome activities of God is such a joy. A great teacher once said, "The world uses people to make money, while the church uses money to make people." Let's give generously to make people abundantly alive in Jesus Christ!

Because of God’s grace,

Rev. Gordon Myers