Pendleton Center United Methodist Church

From the Pastors Desk

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, b
ecause I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”
Isaiah 43

Change…..
While I was on vacation, I went to church in a wonderful old building with a storied history. I have attended worship there off and on for around 40 years. It is a grand building that can hold 600 people. I knew all the songs, and could anticipate everything that would happen in the worship service. It was comfortable, historical, and familiar…and there were about twenty people there….I think my wife and I were the youngest.

Do you know who said the words above? It was God. God is constantly doing a new thing. I love the old, comfortable things, but God is doing a new thing. He likes to create, to make new, to give birth. In the wasteland he brings refreshing streams, in the desert, water for his people. And he will form a people to proclaim his praise.

Sometimes people ask why I so often suggest changing things. “Why can’t we just leave things the way they are?” “Other churches do it that way.” “We never did it that way before.” And of course we all grew up with, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Well first, most churches are broke. Did you know the average age of church people is almost sixty years old? That means the whole church enterprise is about 25 years from extinction. (We are greatly blessed to have so many young people in our church in Pendleton.) Most young people think church is boring and irrelevant. They believe in Jesus, but not the church. In fact, recent surveys indicate that less than one in five Americans of any age now think it’s worth their time to be in church each week.

Second, God seems to think we should be making new things for a new age. God is forming a new church to praise him. I believe there will be a church in our future, God will make sure of that, but I am just as sure many of the places we call church will not be part of it. We are trying some new things with the hope we will find what God is blessing to be his church.

Third, I learned a few years ago that organizations that succeed say, “If it isn’t broke, make it better.” And I know not all the things we try work, but at least we know we’re trying. And a lot of the changes we have made have helped our church to become the wonderful place it is.
And last of all, I am eternally worried about the four out of five people that are not in church. I will try almost anything if it will mean one more soul comes to Jesus.

I love history. I majored in it in college. I love old buildings and old ways. Tradition is important to me. I enjoy old people. (Especially as I am rapidly becoming one.) I listen to old songs, collect and read old books, watch old TV shows and sometimes attend old churches. But God is doing a new thing…..and I don’t want to miss it.

See you in the transformation center we call church,

Pastor Tom

Phone: 716-625-8306
Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 am - 4 pm