One of the many things I appreciate about Presbyterianism is our insistence on working through committees. Yes – committees can be unwieldy and cumbersome and everything else. But at their best committees bring together a diverse group of people, united by a common concern, who work together to find new and creative ways to address important issues. When done well, their ministry is not just the ministry of a few but the ministry of our entire church.
I was reminded of this recently when I attended one of our Mission Committee meetings. Our Mission Committee carefully evaluates requests and then distributes money on behalf of our entire church. This is an important point. When the Mission Committee acts, our entire congregation is acting.
When our Mission Committee supports the Clothesline Ministry, providing school clothes for local students who can’t afford them, then everyone who has donated to our church is providing those clothes.
When our Mission Committee gives to the Carmel Clay Schools Back Sacks program, providing food for students who might go hungry during School breaks, everyone who has ever put a dime in the offering plate is supporting that program.
When our Mission Committee makes a donation to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, everyone who has made a pledge to Orchard Park is supporting the ministry of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
When our Mission Committee financially supports Trinity Fellowship, ALL OF US are supporting Trinity Fellowship.
When our Mission Committee buys cartons of eggs for the local food pantry, OUR ENTIRE CHURCH is buying eggs for the food pantry.
This can’t be overemphasized. When you make a pledge, when you make a donation, when you use the QR code in our bulletin or put money in the offering plate, you are taking part in the missions of our church.
Here at OPPC, we have a good committee structure and our committees function well. Each in their own way acts on behalf of our congregation. This is perhaps most visible in the ministry of our Missions Committee. When our Missions Committee supports something, ALL OF US are supporting it.
Thank you for supporting our committees and their various ministries. Thank you for supporting their work financially. And take a moment to be just a little proud of the Mission Committee’s ministry. Because it’s not just a faceless committee, it’s YOU doing all those wonderful ministries.
God’s blessings on our committees and their ministries.
God’s peace to us all,
Pastor Ken.
