“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good 
works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
Considering how to stir up St. John’s to love, good works, and of course, worship becomes most apparent in August when the last of our summer fellowship activities are underway and the staff and clergy stare directly into the face of fall programming. Questions tinted with panic start to emerge. Do our members feel valued? Are we doing enough to engage them in worship? Are we doing enough to teach our children? Are we doing enough to welcome visitors? Will we be able to sustain our outreach efforts? Will the volunteers step up?
It is at precisely this moment, when I’m seriously considering my ability to involve people, that I remember “stirring people up” is a really fun job to have and not one that’s done alone. Let us indeed consider how to stir up one another! The Fellowship Committee, worship servers, choir, outreach volunteers, Sunday school teachers and so many more are reaching out to those around them and making a positive difference for everyone in and around St. John’s! Hebrews paints a bit of a dark picture, as if we were to do good works because the end is near. But we have an insight that the Hebrew’s lacked. We have the benefit of knowing Jesus Christ as a savior who took away the harshness of the law we could never obey perfectly. Now we are able to work with Christ, each of us, with joy and gratitude to spread love, kindness, charity, integrity, responsibility, fellowship and praise. I like the imagery of stirring something up. It has good energy. And it makes me excited for the things to come this August and all next year at St. John’s.
Peace & Blessings,
Amy Simons
Church Administrator