It's been an emotional week. Last weekend we dropped off our eldest daughter, Victoria, at the University of Washington to begin her college career. Yesterday. Yesterday, she was born. Yesterday she was learning to walk. Yesterday she was heading off to kindergarten. Yesterday I was teaching her how to ride a bike, put on a band aid, reading her books, beginning Jr. High, then Sr. High. Yesterday. And now... she's gone. Not in my home any longer. An empty bed. The impulse to ask her a question having to be stifled. I can only text her so much. A new chapter has begun that I must embrace. I know all this, and have counseled parents along these lines before. And once again I'm reminded of the importance of right now.
All those yesterday moments were "right now" moments at one point in time. Was I really present for them? Did I embrace them in the messiness and craziness of life and see them then as huge and weighty and important as I do now? Probably not. Not perfectly, that's for sure. I think we struggle in seeing the gravity and importance of what is right in front of us, either reminiscing nostalgically (like I'm doing right now!) or worrying frantically about the future. But what about now? Are you there for it?
As a church, how can we see the importance of right now? Right now, around a 1000 people gather each week to remember or try to embrace for the first time, a Savior who came in a particular moment in history to empower us by His spirit for our particular moment in history. Right now, schools are being painted, people are being helped and counseled, community is being formed, new churches are getting started, wounds are being healed through the ministries of City Church. Right now, God is at work. Certainly, remembering with gratitude what God has done in our history is healthy. And praying about the future, and seeking His guidance as we move forward in mission. But that mission? It's happening right now. And right now we need you more than ever to seize this present moment, to engage in mission, to joyfully give, to see the importance of what God is doing in history in San Francisco, right now.
What step might you take to join the mission of City Church? Speak to a pastor or ministry leader at City Church about how you can be propelled into God's mission.... right now.
Connect with others by joining a group
Contribute your time and resources by Volunteering in a City Church Ministry or a City Hope project. Talk to Kirsten Oates about how you can develop wisdom in the area of stewardship
Cultivate your spiritual and emotional health by participating in one of our Spiritual Formation Courses
