Pastor, what really matters today?”

As a pastor, you’ve gotta appreciate the folks who cut to the chase. These are the Joe Friday members . . . “Just the facts, ma’am” kind of people. You’ve gotta love them; what else are you going to do?

Here’s what really matters today:

Jesus is Lord - He is God’s Anointed One! God has anointed Him to be King and Redeemer and Savior and Prophet and Priest and Judge and Way and Truth and Life and Resurrection and so much more. What really matters today? Letting Jesus lead really is the most important thing you could do today.

Here’s what else matters today:

Jesus is Head of the Church - which is His body and we are members - not of a typical voluntary organization - but members of the Body of Christ. He gives us roles and abilities and relationships and responsibilities as we function together to be His presence in the world. Sensing His leadership is both an individual and a corporate task! His Word is our authority for faith and practice; i.e., what we believe and what we do.

Because Jesus is Lord and because we are His church, here’s what else matters today:

Tonight at 6:00 p.m., we’ll meet in the Great Hall of the Berry Building for “church business,” which is the business of determining Christ’s direction for His church. In March 2008, you charged the Bylaws Revision Committee with bringing recommendations to update our church bylaws. In March and April of this year, they have shared thorough presentations of their proposals. The existing and proposed bylaws have been distributed in several ways; the church website includes both versions as well as the presentation of specific changes that have been recommended. Questions and comments have been shared and have been incorporated into the proposal. Tonight, we have an opportunity to vote - but here’s what matters: WE NEED 100 MEMBERS PRESENT FOR A QUORUM. BE ONE OF THEM! However you sense God leading you to vote, show up and vote . . . and then let’s do something else that matters.

What would that be? Well, eat ice cream, of course!

Jerry