Circuit Rider Letter - June 2010
Desperate Households

For the past few weeks we have been looking deeper at what we believe and why we do what we do. We looked at Why Church, Why Communion, Why Marriage, Why the United Methodist Church, Why Baptism, and Why the Bible. Many have shared how these messages have helped them understand more fully who we are as followers of Jesus Christ. During the month of June we will be focusing on families.

The family today is under attack. Everything seems to be drawing families apart rather than together. There are very few activities in our culture today that people do together as a family. Relationships are discussed in terms of singleness and individual choice rather than corporately or in groups. Many families used to eat at least one meal together every day. Today when dinner is being discussed each person is allowed to have something different as a main course and parents will travel from fast food place to fast food place to satisfy each person in the family. Even when it comes to television, each person has their own and can choose what show they want to watch separated from everyone else.

This also can happen in the church. We have events and programs based on age or gender and divide up people instead of providing times for families to do things together. While it is important to be need based in our ministries we need to remember to provide opportunities for people to be together as families. These are the questions I often wrestle with. At what age can children be with their parents and the family can worship together? What ministries can couples do together? What ministries can families get involved in together?

Through the coming month we will be looking at helping our families grow in intimacy. You will be encouraged to do something as a family. Maybe it will be worshipping together or getting involved in a ministry together.

Wrestle with these questions: When was the last time you took a family vacation? What have you done as a family in the last month? What can you do as a family on a regular basis to develop intimacy in your family?

My hope and prayer is that we will not let the world separate us but we will be drawn closer as families.

See you in worship.

Pastor John