Category: Uncategorized

What a weekend!

HollyDaze was our best ever! Related to the size of the turnout, the number of non-members, and the entire spirit of the affair was our celebratory $18,000 plus that we raised for Genesis. Last Saturday evening was simply one great party with so much laughter, goodwill and generosity that I already hear folks talking 2018.

I love worshiping at tables the morning after; I enjoy the change of pace and the fresh opportunities for community and conversation the set-up allows for. Your contributions to the Reformation “Solas” where you highlighted what kind of “only”s Genesis ought to affirm along with any flat out “no”s were inspired indeed. If we can make those “doors” the sort of witness we all carry into the world we are certainly proceeding and succeeding in Outfitting Authentic Disciples.  You guys make my hosting and walking around fielding comments Sunday mornings easy indeed.

Monday morning we were packed into the Board Room for our new Monday Morning Study. That is a group you should check out if possible! We will hear from Session next week in more detail but it seems Chuck Winter’s October plea also swirled up some needed funds to bring 2017 into better clarity and balance. Thank you!

It was C-O-L-D this morning leaving Conifer! There can be no denying we are leaving Fall behind and essentially into winter. The sunshine always lifts my spirits and continues to be, for me, one of the best things about this great place in which we live. I hope you are finding ways to exercise your faith and will continue to open up to what is developing at Genesis. We are a better church when you are with us!

Pastor Don

Ministry is way too important to leave to the paid staff !

So we are Actively Taking Part, Moving Beyond Self-Interest, and Serving Others.

Lay leadership is about moving from being passive consumers of a product to taking our discipleship seriously. It is too easy to remain content sitting on the sidelines and critiquing casually.  Too often members get disappointed in the local brand and rather than help shape the product move on down the street for greener grass.

Genesis knows pastors “come and go” and that it is up to the members to create and support programs and ministry. When we speak about Outfitting Authentic Disciples we are thinking of folks who take ownership of their faith journey. 

We expect a great deal from our pastor, including pastoral shepherding, prophetic preaching and constant invitation and encouragement in growing our own participation. We need more communication and comfort with conflict. We are trying to increase the spiritual and emotional investment of our worshipers as we grow in maturity.  This is a hard shift. It is even hard to talk about! This major aspect of our redevelopment has cost us some members. And it has also already brought some new ones in.

Our Ego always pursues what is best for SELF. We know that following Jesus as Lord requires de-throning the SELF from determining all our preferences .

Our Ego is always asking “is this, for me, the right (usually meaning “comfortable”) congregation/pastor/decision/tradition/building…?”  Willingness to be led by Christ means we step beyond what we are comfortable with. 

This isn’t always easy. Okay, it is seldom easy. But we do think it’s more fun. During our New Beginnings process we came to realize a shift was going to have to take place if we were to re-claim a vibrant future for our community. We learned that sometimes churches produce Consumers of spiritual products rather than Disciples. So we are working on ministry  with each other and owning our parts in leadership and decision making. We think it is a better way to do church.

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOTICE IN OUR ACTIVIST CHURCH: In worship our lay leader does the announcements, leads the call to worship and unison prayer, reads the first scripture lesson, and even takes on the prayers of the people (the heart of our worship) often. We enjoy our music at Genesis and have numerous opportunities in song and sung responses to participate. During Pastor Don’s sermon there are often opportunities to share reflections or answer a question, reference an additional scripture passage or respond to a point.

We have learned to take part in preaching as a dialogue. Yes, Pastor Don has been through a lot of schooling. But there is A LOT of wisdom sitting in the chairs on any given Sunday too. During the prayers of the people we share joys and concerns with one another because we know that is how community is strengthened. It is risky sometimes. And sometimes you can really feel the spirit move at Genesis because lives are coming into authentic contact with one another in ways they don’t any place else.

In addition we have a time called “Offerings.” After the plates are passed we take part in a conversation across the aisle about what the sermon has covered, where we are as families and employees and disciples and students and divorcees and those who occupy every strata of life. To hear from one another changes our congregation. It takes some willingness on worshiper’s part! Worship at Genesis is never boring. Really. In large part because we are constantly a part of it.

At every level of decision making, in all sorts of mission work and service, and throughout our worship experience we are reminded that our own participation is key to joyous life in Christ.

Click HERE for details of our Core Values!

Fall 2015

It is odd that we would even need to mention this in the 21st century. But a significant majority of Christendom doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of Women as equal partners in Leadership and Ministry.*  We think this is truly a shame.

First, we wonder: how on earth do they get anything done?!

In Christ “there is neither male nor female…”  Paul writes in Galatians. We take that to mean at least that in Christ there is both male and female and we should be celebrating the distinctive gifts that women have always provided the church with.

Our pulpit is regularly filled by women, our liturgists are often women, so we are accustomed to being led in preaching, teaching, scripture reading, and prayer by the same women who help us discern the spirit at every level of our governance and life together.

It is not enough to suggest women can help with fundraising bake sales and training up our kids.  We hope for continued growth in our society’s treatment and respect of women, and are making sure at Genesis the New Kingdom is in full view.

* Half of Christendom is Catholic. They bring a great deal of richness and diversity theologically, culturally, and in our country especially ethnically to the kingdom. For this we are grateful indeed! Another significant group of Conservative and Evangelical Christians similarly have much to bring to the table of religion. And they similarly prohibit women from sharing fully in the Body of Christ.