(“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23–24)”

Greetings Church!

We live in a world that often measures our worth by what we accomplish. How much did you get done?

How successful were you? How much money did you make?

Did anyone notice your effort? Did anyone say, “Thank you”?

And sometimes, if we are honest, we can become tired because we are working hard but wondering if anybody notices. Paul gives us a different perspective in Colossians 3:23–24. He says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

Notice that Paul does not say, “Do only the things you enjoy.”

He says, “Whatever you do.” Whatever your assignment is.

Whatever your responsibility is.

Whatever season of life you are in.

Whatever God has placed in front of you.

Do it with your whole heart not because everybody will recognize you, but because you are ultimately serving the Lord.

Paul says, “Work at it with all your heart.” God isn’t asking us simply to go through the motions. He wants our hearts. There is a difference between doing something and doing something with love.

You can sing a song without worshiping. You can attend church without encountering God. You can volunteer without serving. You can give money without generosity.

Serving in the church can become ministry. Because the value isn’t simply in what we do. The value is in who we are doing it for.

AND Sometimes serving God is hard. There are days when we are tired.

There are moments when we wonder whether our efforts are making a difference. There are seasons when the church faces difficult decisions.

This is true for FCC WPB, as our Steering Team has been doing amazing work over the past year. After prayerfully discerning the feedback from our recent congregational surveys, the Steering Team has suggested that our new mission statement be:

Our Mission:

To Be a Church Family that L.O.V.E.S. like Jesus

L.ove like Jesus

O.pen and accepting of all

(John 12:34-35)

V.alues unique faith journeys

(Proverbs 27:17)

E.mbraces justices

(Micah 6:8)

S.erves the community joyfully

(1 Peter 4:10)

The Steering Team also identified four areas of ministry that our congregation said they would like to rally around:

Food Insecurity

Unhoused Neighbors

Senior Ministry

Youth

It is our hope that, over the next 10 years, we will have an impact in all four of these areas. However, we also recognize that we have to start somewhere and we cannot effectively begin all four ministries at once.

Church, we are living in a time when we need people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and serve. We need people who will say: “Where can I help?” Not: “Who is going to notice? ”Not: “What’s in it for me?”

But: “Lord, what would you have me do?” The future of God’s FCC WPB church will not be built simply by people sitting in the pews. It will be built by people who are willing to serve. People willing to pray. People willing to give. People willing to teach. People willing to encourage. People willing to take a risk ad try something new.

Church are you willing to say: “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”??

Pressing On! Pastor Bruce