May 2012

Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

Here we stand the end of April.  Easter is over.  The Summer is just ahead, but not quite here yet.  This is as slow as it gets at the church.  We have been going, going, and going around the church.  Time now to take a breath, gather our selves, take a look around and a look ahead… Oh, there is still so much to do.

Aside from making summer plans, we look to the future of the church, and it still looks quite bright.  We continue to grow, continue to be faithful, and continue to discover new things that need our attention.  There is no shortage of work to be done, and it isn’t as though we have been doing nothing, quite to the contrary, we have been doing a lot of things, perhaps too many, or maybe not enough, or, most likely, it is a matter of priority and efficiency.

Sure we have been doing “alright” and we are far from an abysmal failure, but certainly there some very important things we are not doing nearly as well as we could be.  There are any number of solutions, but what I want you to consider is one important way you can help.

Volunteers are the life-blood of the churches’ success in ministry.  We are all acquainted with the old “80/20” rule, the conventional wisdom that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.  I think we are better off than that, but not by as much as we would like to believe.  Certainly, I think we are capable of so much more.  The depth of talent, resources, and experience here atSanta Feis wonderful, yet so much of it remains untapped in its use for the church.

“Many hands make light work,” the age-old wisdom proclaims, and it is true.  There are many ways for each of us to get involved, both large and small, and all of them are important.  But more than that, it is a matter of faithfulness.   1 Peter 4:10-11 exhorts us in this way, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (NIV)

 I ask you to consider, which ministry of the church you feel is important to the life and mission of Santa Fe. Certainly there are enough to choose from.  If you feel it is important, make an offer to help, we will find a way to put your time and talent to good use, paying heed to Exodus 35:10, “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded.” (NIV)

If we are going to continue moving forward, growing in ministry and members, we are going to need more people to help us prepare for the new people and the new ministries God intends to bring to Santa Fe.  For nothing is impossible in God for he has gifted the church for its work in glorifying the name of Jesus Christ.  “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 , ESV)

May the peace and blessing of God, the joy of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit be with you all,

Mitch