Goode Thoughts - Let's Get Started

Well, I am four days officially into this role and I am still excited (and a bit terrified) of what is ahead.  There's a lot that has been done and a lot more ahead over the coming weeks but we're going to get there!  And most of all, we are going to be seeing God's hand at work in some beautiful ways as we come together into ResoundingJoy Church!  

Speaking of beauty -this is some beauty just right aorund the corner from Greenhills - at Winton Lake on Tuesday morning...Friends, God's beauty is all around us!

First off, here's a copy of the document that was shared at NW this week when I was preaching and leading in worship.  It details some initial steps of bringing our membership data together (and your part in helping with that) as well as some plans for the summer overall.  
RJC Member Info and Update 

Merger Updates

• We had a meeting on Thursday July 10 of the treasurers of each of the three congregations to work on the details of merging our finances.  The team is reviewing the finances of each congregation to get an up-to-date financial standing of the congregations and will be meeting again in the coming weeks with other finance team / trustee members to work out logistics and planning for our finances.  More to come on this.  
• I have reached out to a sign company that comes highly recommended from another congregation in the presbytery to get a quote and timeline on a new sign for once RJC is up and running in September
• Brad Caldwell has been hard at work beginning the shift of music and instruments over to the new building.  
• The merge team has been working with groups from the different congregations and current-use folks at Northwest about room assignments and setup.  Several shifts have already taken place and things are coming together well.  
• The congregations are all looking at what they have in their buildings, what stays, what goes, what comes, etc.  
• The initial Session of RJC will be having its first meeting on Monday, July 14 and will be reviewing an initial draft of the official Plan of Union to be approved by each congregation's session, by the congregation as a whole, and then by the Presbytery.  

Things to be Thinking About

• How to Serve - In the online form for membership information, there's a list of ways to be serving in RJC.  Please prayerfully reflect on how God is calling you to serve and share in this new ministry.  
• How to Give - In the coming weeks, we'll have information on switching your giving over to RJC and how that will look.  In addition to the traditional ways of giving, we will have a robust online giving platform that you can use for one-time and recurring giving.  More on that to come.  
• How to Grow - One of my passions in ministry is in teaching and in small groups.  I would love to have several groups up and running for RJC as we get going in September.  In person groups are great but I also know that sometimes it is simpler tomeet by zoom so there may be a zoom group too!  I have also been kicking around some "groups" online using the new website where you can watch videos and share on your own if a scheduled time doesn't work.  We are called not just to do and to give but to grow in our life with Jesus!  

How to Pray

• Logistics - Please be praying for all the steps that are ahead and there are many.  It can feel overwhelming but we will get there.  Pray please especially for the people who are neck deep in the merger details.
• Our Outreach - I want to invite you to pray for how God is going to use us to connect with our community.  Pray for an openness to share, invite, and welcome.  Pray for hearts to be open to the stirrings of the Spirit both within each of us and in our community.  
• The World Around Us - Friends, this is a tumultous time in so many ways.  Pray for this season in which we find ourselves in our country and in the world as a whole.  

Finally, here's a little glimpse of some beauty within the sancutary here...

Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed