May 4, 2007

Dear family and friends of WCPC:

It’s all about relationships.  I don’t know how many times I have repeated that phrase to people, because in my experience it is all about relationships. If you were to take a poll, ask people why they attend a certain church, in most cases one of the first responses will be, because of the people.  Most studies conclude that when a new member joins a congregation, unless they have two to six relationships with other members of that congregation within six months, there is a high probability that they won’t be members of that congregation for very long.

It is all about relationships.  That’s good news because the life of a disciple, the life of a follower of Jesus Christ was meant to be all about relationships.  We are in community, in communion with other disciples.  We join with them in celebrating God’s provision when life is good and resting in God’s grace when life isn’t as good as we would like.  We teach and instruct and learn from each other.  Where my gifts end, yours begin.  When my energy begins to wane, yours takes over.   Ministry and mission is all about relationships.

The most important relationship however isn’t with other members of the church but with Jesus Christ. Jesus tells his disciples in John’s gospel – “"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15: 5)

It is only out of our relationship with Jesus that other genuine relationships within the body of Christ are possible.  Jesus Christ is the one link that holds us together and binds us to one another.  As our relationship with Jesus is deepened, so our relationship with other followers of Jesus.  Without our relationship with Jesus the church would resemble a YMCA or a Rotary Club or even a country club.  It would be a good organization to belong to, might accomplish much good in the world, but it wouldn’t be what God intended and what Jesus died for.

My prayer for each of the disciples who compose WCPC is that you have significant relationships with other disciples who make up this congregation.  You need them, just as they need you.  But more than that my deepest prayer is that each of us will grow more deeply in love with Jesus.  That our relationship with Jesus will define us more and more, day by day, as we spend time with Him and share ministry and mission with others who love Him too.

To sum up, I want all of us to love Jesus more than we love the church, because when that happens our love for the church will resemble His love for us.

Your pastor,

David Jones