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40 Days Discerning Our Future

40 Days Discerning Our Future

Recently the Church Council commissioned a Congregational Survey Committee with the tasks of surveying the congregation for the purpose of bringing recommendations on the skills we should seek in a future Associate Pastor. It was shortly after the first meeting of the survey team that the pathway would not be that straightforward and simple. It became very clear that St. Michael is at a crossroads as a congregation, with the changing demographics of our community and congregation. Couple this with the recent completion of our recent building expansion. The choice of how and with whom we staff going forward is extremely critical to the future of our congregation and as a result, requires taking a step back to understand ourselves a whole lot better.

40 Days Discerning Our Future will prove to be a major undertaking as a congregation. Why “40 Days to Discern” you might ask? The season of Lent does lend itself to a time when we are asked or challenged to take a personal look at our selves. What more appropriate time for us to look at and reflect upon whom we are as a congregation?

Why 40? Well … It rained for 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the world and start over; Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days; The Israelites ate manna in the wilderness 40 years until they reached the border of Canaan; Elijah, strengthened by one angelic meal went 40 days to Mount Horeb where the Lord passed by and he heard the voice of God ; Jonah warned the City of Nineveh they had 40 days until God would overthrow the city. The people repented in those 40 days and God spared the city; and Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness.

Needless to say, the number 40 gives evidence to God’s presence and communication with His people at major crossroads in their lives. His presence and communication will be just as significant in our lives over these 40 days as it was for Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jonah, the Ninevites, and Jesus. Over the 40 Days of Discernment we will pose a weekly question. We ask you to pray and reflect upon that question each day, and at the end of the week write down your thoughts. Drop them in the box designated for responses in the narthex. Your input is vital to the future ministry of St. Michael. May God grant us wisdom and insight to discern His will for our future.