Pastor Jeff's Office Hours:
Tuesday: 9a-12p
Wednesday: 12:30p-3:30p
Thursday: 9a-12p
Friday: 9a-12p
Pastor's Page
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b14
Dear Friends,
It has been a somewhat tumultuous few months at our church. That is not surprising, because we have had the courage in 2020 and 2021 to ask ourselves some hard questions and consider some pretty radical answers. We have prayed and talked and even debated as we sought our way forward—God’s way forward for our congregation. We faced a difficult problem head on—the slow decline of our congregation—and the lack of young families despite efforts to reach them. Discussions like these are always fraught, but the healthiest of churches can have them and come out the other side better for it, with decisions made that must be made but are very hard to make.
With God’s help, we have done just that!
I want to thank everyone in the congregation. For we have done something that few churches can— we have worked our way through a very difficult conversation and come out the other side with a new vision for the moving forward of our congregation. As you know, at our meeting on Sunday, June 13th, we voted to remain in our current location and reach our local community. We sought God’s guidance, prayed for His direction and He answered us—the vote was unanimous!
Now we have a new, clear direction, a new path we can stride down confidently as a church. There is a new energy in our boards and among our leaders, in our congregation and even in our worship! We know what we now must do. There will be new ministries and new renovations to our building as we seek to reach our new main goal—to serve our local community and to reach Ogunquit, Cape Neddick and Moody, both year-round residents and seasonal residents, with the good news of Jesus Christ. I’m excited to move forward on this path together!
There is one more thing we must do now, which we already are doing—we must listen to the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13-14. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” Already, any tension that came up during our difficult discussions is fading away as we come together toward our new goal. Such conflict is unavoidable when a congregation who loves their church comes together to made wide-ranging decisions about its future. And it has already begun to slip into the past. Let’s let it! Let us allow it to fade away in our rearview mirror as we accelerate down the new road God has laid for us together! Already we feel a new sense of unity with one another. Let’s let it grow and become firm as we press on toward the goal together for Christ Jesus our Lord, that we might arrive at our destination and rejoice together in seeing God’s work being accomplished!
Let’s Press On!
Pastor Jeff