Challenging Times

These are challenging times.  The government shutdown, debt ceiling deadlines looming on the horizon, and the seeming unwillingness of our elected leaders to find meaningful ways to move our nation forward in these perilous times are creating an atmosphere of mistrust and uneasiness that  is permeating nearly every aspect of our society.  Fingers are easily pointed from all sides of the political spectrum, yet few seem to be able to overcome their ideological or pragmatic perspectives to find ways to work together.  We seem to be less willing these days to look for ways to work together for fear that some might think us weak or unfaithful to the cause, whatever that cause may be. Many are still struggling to find work while the economy seems to teeter on the brink of another serious downturn with each political standoff.  Our conversations ultimately turn to these topics, often fed by the hyperbole that is rampant in the media outlets we selectively allow to reinforce further the divisions among us.

 

These are challenging times.  It seems that nearly every aspect of our lives have been captured by our frustrations in the present and our fears for the future.  The church has not escaped these fears and frustrations.  Trends in attendance, giving, and participation in a wide variety of church involvement are down according to a number of national studies.  In the May edition of Christianity Today, David Baker argues that statistics are not the most telling indicator of church health as he writes, "For Jesus, the vocabulary of following him revolves not around statistics, or attendance – but around whole-life discipleship." While I find agreement with his assessment, I cannot ignore the impact that these "statistics" have on the life and operation of the church.

 

These are challenging times. The trends that are impacting the church across this nation are also having an impact at Westwood.  Nowhere is this more telling than in our giving patterns.  Through the first eight months of the year, our expenses have exceeded our income.  It is not uncommon at Westwood for there to be a deficit of spending at this time of year as we have routinely spent more through the first eight to nine months of the year, only to greatly reduce or overcome that deficit of spending during the last quarter of the year.  What has made our financial leadership more nervous this year is that the deficits are stronger and the giving weaker than in years past.  Their concerns are understandable and have been reflected in recent Westwood World articles.  These trends will likely have an impact on the budgeting process for 2014 and spending patterns for the remainder of the year.

 

These are hopeful times.  Westwood is preparing to celebrate her fiftieth anniversary in 2014.  There is a rich heritage of faith in this body of believers that has spanned the ups and downs of church life over those five decades.  I have heard stories of bounty and hardship over these fifty years, but the constant through it all has been the presence of God's Spirit and the faithfulness of God's people.  In the midst of changing demographics, expectations, and a variety of other indicators, I believe these constants have remained. The simple truths of loving God and loving others have been and continue to be reflected in this body of believers and therefore, I am hopeful. I am grateful for the faithfulness of God's people in this community of faith known as Westwood.  Together we can work to address the challenges before us, recognizing the significance, as Dave Baker cited, of "whole-life discipleship." 

 

During the month of October, the theme of our worship will be "Simple Gifts."  Though stewardship is at the heart of this emphasis, we will consider how the simple gifts of praise, gratitude, humility, and service empower our faithfulness in every area of our lives.  These simple gifts call us to a way of living that reflects Kingdom priorities. I know there are many distractions as you approach each Sunday, but I encourage you to be present if at all possible during this emphasis as we refocus on simple truths from God's word that will help us to face the many challenges that are before us.

 

Jim Abernathy