Engaging the culture

Dear First Pres SLO Family,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the one who makes all things new,

Jesus the Messiah.

It’s been a while—I took a break from writing these reflections over the summer, mainly so that I could have something fresh to say. Here we go!

We begin a new church year this week with our Kickoff Sunday, when we share a meal and get a chance to see what our church will be doing in the coming months. Every ministry or leadership opportunity will be on display. We do this not just to show off, but to make sure everyone who attends First Pres SLO can see the many ways we can join in and serve our church and community.

So much is going on around the world and in our own nation. It’s easy to feel frustrated or angry or powerless—or maybe all three at once. For myself, 

I’m offended at the way that Jesus and the Christian faith are being used to defend and support actions that have nothing to do with what he came to teach. 

I want to do something to remedy that in my role as your pastor.

Over this coming year, in my Sunday messages and in the class I’ll teach on Thursday evenings, I will have one primary goal. 

My goal is to help our congregation be more confident and effective in the way we engage the wider culture with our Christian faith.

So, with that in mind, my messages this fall will focus on the Fruit of the Spirit as we find them in Galatians 5. I’ll also start a class later this month on the relationship between Christian faith and American culture, starting with the Scopes Trial in 1925 (there had to be some history, right?). 

And it’s not just me. This will be the coordinated message of all our ministries, from children through adults, on Sunday mornings and in the various other programs of the church—we’re all going to focus on how we can make a real impact on our community and our nation. Our own Kate Murray will facilitate an adult Sunday class on the importance of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 (“whatever you do for the least of these…”). I can’t think of anything more important at this point in our history than learning how to represent the real Jesus and our faith in a way that shows his love and grace and acceptance to everyone. 

Our motto for the year is: “Engaging the culture with the love of Christ.”

It all begins this Sunday. Come and be a part of it!

Blessings, Pastor John