To say that a church is `growing' could mean many things - that the members are growing up in Christ, or that numbers are going up, or even that waistlines are increasing! The Bible regards it as normal that churches should grow. In Ephesians 4.13, the ministry of the church is intended to build up its members - Attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. In Acts 2.47, numerical growth is expected - The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. However, growth in waistlines is not, as far as I know, regarded as a Christian characteristic. Despite that, most of us make sure that we are well fed - physically. Do we make equally sure that we are well fed spiritually? Next month we start the Bible Study again. We shall be looking at the Letter to the Ephesians. The Study begins on Sunday 2nd March at 12.00, just in time for Lent, and will be completed between Easter and Pentecost. Will you be there?
Another aspect of growth is growing as a family. By the time you read this, we will have had two special services in January with the wider church family: with the Ethiopian Church at St Ursula's, and with Bern City churches at the Munster. On Saturday 15th February we have the privilege of hosting the Willibrord Society annual meeting at St Ursula's. This society seeks to develop the relationship between the Anglican Church and our Swiss sister church: the Christkatholische Kirche. Why not come and find out more, and join in the joint Eucharist?
Thirdly, growth in our numbers means that St Ursula's is getting a little crowded at times. This is something to thank God for. It is also a headache for the Church Council. We are not allowed to alter our building, so should we add a gallery (and that means more money is needed!), or would two Sunday services be better? Actually, as we cannot even find enough musicians to cover one Sunday service (please pray for an extra organist - or two!), we could not start to think of starting a second service, even if we could solve all the other problems that would involve. The Church Council is not rushing into a decision about a gallery, or other major expenditure, until we are sure that we have our spiritual priorities right (please pray for that too!); but we will be looking at all the ways of getting the most we can out of (or is it 'in to'?) our church building.
Yours in Christ,
Richard Pamplin