Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Mathew 28.18-20.

Jesus' parting words to his disciples were a call to "mission" - "go" is what he said.  That means Christians are to be 'on the move'- moving out from the safety and comfort of the Meetinghouse and Parish House and out into the community.  Jesus said that, when we go out, our mission is to 

'make disciples' for him.  That means Jesus has given us a command-not an option- to give to others what he has given to us - his love, his teachings, his serving- so that more people will come to know and love him and receive the gift of eternal life.  Our mission is both serving and sharing the Gospel, that's what Jesus meant by 'teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you'.  As a matter of fact, sharing the Gospel is at the heart of mission:  service is a vehicle for Gospel to travel.  The work Jesus gave to the Church is mission; most importantly, 'hands on' mission in the community where we live.  

Mission needs vision too.  Our Vision and Goals Committee has been actively seeking God's vision for our Church since last August.  Much of the work done so far has been exploratory, aimed at discernment of how God's Holy Spirit is moving in this Church and where God's vision is for our future.  The Committee will be giving a detailed report of their work at the Annual Meeting on May 19th.  

But, the Holy Spirit doesn't reveal God's vision exclusively to the Pastor or the Vision Committee- through the prayers of the whole Body of Christ, God will show us his will for the Church.  You can continue to pray this one minute prayer, once a day at 1:00 p.m., for one month:

"Dear Lord, I thank you that you have forgiven my sins through your Son, Jesus Christ, and that you have called me to be part of his Body on earth.  Please use the gifts and talents you have given to me to serve others, both inside and outside the church.  Lord, together with my sisters and brothers, I seek your vision for your body of First Congregational Church of Marshfield.  Fill me and your entire church with your Holy Spirit that we may discern where you are working in our community and where you want us to join you.  Give me a heart for the lost and broken, for those who don't know you and let me see otheres as Jesus sees them.  Empower me to love with his love.  Amen."

                                                                                                           In Christ’s love,

                                                                                                                    Pastor Susan 

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