Membership as Discipship and the Week Ahead

Membership as Discipleship
This past Sunday I spoke briefly on membership as discipleship. In our own Faith and Practice it describes membership as an experience in discipleship. But, when we hear the word "discipleship" I fear that we might think of heavy duty study with three-ring binder notebooks for those only truly serious about being spiritual. The truth is that discipleship is for everyone and it's not a "one time" experience nor it is just an event. Discipleship is a journey in which we make a conscious choice and decision to live in solidarity with Jesus and the reign of God that Jesus invites us to follow and participate in. To live in solidarity with Jesus means that we value the same things Jesus values as well as do what Jesus did. Discipleship is less a program and more a way of life. To become a member, then, is to publicly acknowledge that you are willing to engage that journey at a thoughful level. This doesnt mean you will be perfect or always get it right in following Jesus. It does mean that you will seek to be faithful to the way of Jesus and to give thought to it's implications for your daily living. As a member, it's a journey we take together and not just as individuals. To be sure, there are ways activities and programs we can participate in that will help us in this journey...

• Participate in our "Digging Deeper" Sunday evening series along with the Disciple Bible Study or the book study
• Attend a Sunday School Class
• Be as regular as possible to meeting for worship
• Attend our Contemplative / Silent worship at 9AM
• Join with others in a book study, prayer group, or Bible study
• Be active in service to others
• Seek ways to apply your faith and the way of Jesus to your daily decisions - whether it be at work, in politics, or in your family
• Take time for silence and prayer to hear the voice of the Living Christ

These are just some of the practices we can engage in to aid us in our journey. Whatever you choose, seek to bring meaning to your membership. Seek to make it a journey of abundance and life!

Thanks To Everyone Who Helped At The BBQ

Thanks to everyone who helped at our Fall BBQ this past Saturday. It takes alot of folks to make it a success. Most of all, it's a great opportunity to join together in a common project as well as meet people and fellowship with each other. At the same time, we are able to raise money for worthy projects as well as ongoing projects around the meeting house. Again, thanks to everyone for your participation!

Deep River Friends and Membership

Yesterday I started a short series on what it means to be a member of a local meeting and specifically Deep River Friends. Our own Faith and Practice defines and Active Member in this way:

"Friends received into active membership those whose faith in Christ as a personal Savior is manifest in their lives and who are in unity with the teachings of Christian truth as held by Friends. Membership is seen 'primarily in terms of discipleship. It implies a sense of responsibility...a sense of commitment...and a willingness to be used by God.' "

As I shared yesterday, our starting point is a relationship with the Living Christ. Being a member is more then just having your name on a Membership Roll. Being an Active Member is a public declaration that you have entered into a spiritual journey with the Living Christ and you desire to take that journey in community with others. On this journey, we don't have it have it all figured out nor do we need to be perfect. What is necessary is that we see our membership journey as more then a "networking" tool or a status symbol. Instead, we see it is an important stage in the ongoing process of our spiritual development. Over the next three weeks, we will continue to look at this definition of what it means to be an Active Member. We are reminded, though, that any understanding of being an Active Member begins with our own personal reflection on our relationship with Christ. The relationship is our starting point and it is what carries us on this journey towards the fullness of membership.

Thanks and Appreciation!
This past Saturday we had some thoughtful folks giving time and energy around the meetinghouse grounds to do some cleaning and trimming. Thanks to all who came out on Saturday for your time and effort. It's also great to realize that when we take responsibility to care for our property, we are exercising good stewardship by not having to pay others to do it for us. It literally saves us money and we are able to take this money and use it for outreach and other meaningful ministries. Thanks to all who give of their time and talents at Deep River Friends!

Ice Cream Social Sunday
This Sunday (September 20) will be the the Annual Missions Committee Ice Cream Social. Come and enjoy great homemade ice cream from a variety of folks. All the monetary donations go towards supporting our ongoing mission projects. The ice cream social is always a great time to visit with others and support our missions giving!

CROP Walk
The Annual CROP Walk is coming up on September 27th. We hope that many of you will either be able to give a monetary donation or participatein the walk. The CROP Walk is intended to both raise money and awareness of those that are in need and hungry both in our communties and across our nation.