HCLC Mission Statement
Holy Communion Lutheran Church
6220 Portsmouth Blvd, Portsmouth VA 23701
Call: 757-488-2604
Welcome!
TRUE WORSHIP & SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND MINISTRY
OF HOLY COMMUNION LUTHERAN CHURCH
Each Sunday we gather to worship God. Not to be entertained or to have our wants met. The blessing is that in our worship God blesses us. We leave spiritually fed, forgiven and sometimes healed in body, mind and/or spirit. This is a bonus to worship not meant to be our reason for coming. Worship is our offering to God. It is NOT about us. God is just so generous we REAP benefits from our worship...how Great is Our God!
So, attendance at worship should not be contingent on the liturgy being used, the style of music being sung, which Pastor is preaching or the length of the service. Worship attendance ought to be a lavish outpouring of your love and reverence for God. God created this community of faith to expand the kingdom of God. We are thankful for this gift too and should take advantage of the blessing of having a place, a community of faith and a risen Savior irrespective of our personal preferences.
How we worship is an expression of who God created us to be. God allows us to use these self-understandings in creating worship experiences that honor God and reflect ourselves. However we cannot let our desire to have things our way stop us from attending worship. If we do, we have lost the meaning of worship. If we do, we are not leaving space for others to come in and have worship reflect their created selves.
I only come on Sundays when I like the preacher.
I only come on Sundays where they don’t play that other music.
Until they go back to the old way, I won’t be back.
These are not real quotes but I imagine capture real feelings. The feelings are not wrong. But they are opportunities for growth. Paul taught about taking on the customs of others so that the kingdom can be expanded. Perhaps looking at the variety in worship as an opportunity to expand the kingdom will help you to live your faith with a strong commitment to corporate worship. It is my hope that we find a way to have worship that is relatable for those that are here and for those that will come. My greater hope is that we understand that worship is a verb and we are the actors – our acts of worship are the true offerings to God.
Finally, the mission and vision of Holy Communion are not dependent upon the preacher/pastor. The work and worship of God is done by all the people of God. Even the growth of new members can and should happen during times without a called pastor.
Grace Lutheran Chesapeake is a great example of lay people understanding their baptismal call. When their pastor got ill they already had the understanding that it is everyone’s responsibility to grow and build God’s kingdom. Grace actually grew larger during his time on medical leave and eventual passing. They took on the things that were pastor driven as their own and lived their faith through regular worship attendance, faith giving, strong prayers, meeting their neighbors, reading the bible and relentless invitations to worship.
Now is the time Holy Communion! Don’t wait for the “new pastor” to come in and “get” new members. Don't decide which Sundays to attend based upon the liturgy or the preacher. Commit to being regular in worship attendance! Be generous stewards of your time, talent and treasure! Invite relentlessly and unapologetically. Start today! After all statistics show most people join a faith community because of the people and not as often because of the pastor.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23
Jesus says this to the Samaritan woman at the well in sharp contradiction to the belief that God’s people were only the Israelites. Be a true worshipper! And when you pass a well, expand the kingdom of God by inviting someone into the family of God!
Living in Expectation,
Pastor CeCee
