By Pastor Mike Njus, Commissioned Clergy
Murray Christian Church, Christian Church In Nebraska
I have been blessed to be a part of a group of people, focused on how we are doing church. Our group is a mixture of regional ministers, pastors, and church leaders who also represent a wide range of ages.
Since August of 2020, we have been meeting by Zoom monthly and asking questions: Who are we? And more recently, Why are we? This week, a part of the answer to these questions came to me: Because we are in covenant — an agreement which brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people.
Our group went back to some of the founding documents as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to help us understand where we are.
I’d started looking at the preamble as a member of the Tri-Regional Partnership exploration group. But as I continue to reflect, I had to look at it as a part of the Nebraska Region and lastly as a member of my local congregation, Murray Christian Church.
I am blessed to walk side by side with you on your faith journey, to be in covenant with you all. I share my role in the Tri-Region exploration group as a way to invite you to look at how you fit into the puzzle.
The Preamble, explicitly names what weaves us together: baptism, faith in a living Christ, and a table of gratitude.
So, I ask:
- What role have these aspects played in your personal life and as a member of your local congregation?
- How have you seen these three aspects weave your local congregation together?
- How have you seen these three aspects weave your congregation into your community?
As we near a change of seasons and heading back to school, I feel it a perfect opportunity for all of us to think about these questions.