Weekly Update// Pastor Will

  Dear Asbury Family,

We are approaching the fourth Sunday of our sermon series Credo. This week’s topic is the church, or as we say in the Creed, “the holy catholic church, the communion of saints.” This Sunday, I’m tasked with looking at what that all means. Not only what was the meaning when it was written, but also, what does that mean for us today!

When I was growing up, the church was a second home for me. Sometimes it even felt like my first home. I always wanted to be at church. There were a lot of reasons for this including a large area to run and play, usually good food, and often plenty of ways to get into trouble. It was my kind of place! However, the main reason I loved going to church was that it felt like an extension of my family. There were so many people at the church that I considered family. People who looked out for me. People who cared for me. And the occasional person who scolded me when I needed a good talking to! In fact, the church was so much like a family, that I became more and more protective of it as I got older. I found myself not wanting to spend the night at friends’ houses on Saturday night because I knew that would mean that I would miss church. As you can tell, church meant a lot to me!

Further into my life as my call to ministry grew, it was easy for me to say yes to my call because it was a chance for me to create a positive experience of church for other people similar to mine. I know people have not always had the greatest experience in the church and so it became a large part of my call story. Some people have felt judged or mistreated in the church, so my hope is to do my part in making the church a welcoming place where other people can call it home as well. There are a few different metaphors for the church that are used in scripture, one of which is that of a family, because the church is just that; a group of people who are part of a community that looks out for one another, and so much more!

My hope for this Sunday is that we all will have a deeper knowledge, not only about the Apostles' Creed, but also about the church in general. The church has changed a lot during its existence and continues to do so, but I believe, that if we stay faithful to letting the Holy Spirit guide us, we’ll be alright!

I hope you can join us for worship, either online or in person, at both 9:30 am (contemporary/celebration) and 11:00 am (traditional). Have a blessed weekend and we will see you soon!

Thanks!

Pastor Will