Notes from the Moderator: Mark Flory Steury

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” Romans 12:2

“Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old.” Lamentations 5:21

Renew. It’s probably safe to say that, as individuals and as congregations, we all long to be renewed. The Christian life is an ongoing journey. We begin our Christian pilgrimage at our baptism. Sometimes in our journey we feel energized and inspired. Other times we feel tired and unresponsive to God’s Spirit. As Christians, our constant prayer is to be renewed.

Spiritual care and growth takes effort. Just as our lawns and gardens need attention and nurture to look healthy, so too, we need to give time to our spiritual well-being. What is it that nurtures our spirits as Christians? What is it that helps us to feel renewed as congregations?

As I have visited churches for many years, I have heard the frustrations that many congregations feel. Why is our congregation not growing? Why isn’t our sanctuary full on Sunday? Why don’t things work like they used to? What happened to the lively congregation we used to be?

In the coming months I’d like for us to focus as a district on the word “renew”. How can we as individuals, congregation and the district be renewed? What does it mean for us to “Be transformed by the renewing of our minds?”

Let’s pray for God’s renewal among us—in our personal lives, in our congregations, within our district. May our prayer be the prayer of the writer of Lamentations, “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old.”