Ministry Update 9-19-08

This week's devotion by Jay McKenney

Eternal Investment
As we seek to live out “We choose to be real”, one of our focuses as a ministry this year will be to find practical ways to live out our faith outside of the walls of Sunset. My friend Eric Venerable puts it this way, “We want the best stuff at Sunset to be happening outside of Sunset.”

I think one of the weakest areas in my life, the area where I have the most room for growth, would be how I view money. My parents taught my solid values about finances, I have tithed my whole life, and intellectually I know that my money is God’s money. But what I fail to do most often is invest in eternal purposes.

This week we are going to challenge the congregation to take one week, as individuals or as families, to not spend extra money on themselves (Starbucks, movies, etc). Everyone’s list and decision will be different. But the goal is to practice for one week taking money that we would have spent on ourselves, and investing it in eternal purposes, such as the poor, or advancing the gospel.

I don’t want to ask anything of anyone I’m not willing to do myself, so I have lived this challenge over the last week along with some others at Sunset. One thing that I realized about me is that I am used to instant gratification. If I want to get a Jamba, I get it. If I want to see a movie, I watch it. If I’m craving Starbuck’s, I satisfy the craving. I do these things without thinking twice about another purpose for that money. This week has forced me to think about where I am investing.

So… starting this coming Monday the 22nd, will you pray about taking this journey for one week with our community? We need to be challenged as we practice living out our faith at home and in life. And it’s way more fun doing it together!

“We choose to be real, so they will know Him.”


Denomination Update from Pastor Ron
We have an important update from Pastor Ron below! Please plan to attend one of the meetings on Sunday, 9/28 (after 11a service) or Wednesday, 10/1 (7pm). Your understanding and participation in this process is very important!

August 23, 1981, I began as pastor of Sunset Presbyterian Church with a vision of connecting as many people as possible to Jesus. I did a demographic study before coming and learned that 80 percent of people in the west side of Portland did not attend church regularly. Apparently I have not been all that effective, because the statistics have not changed much. Seven years later Ken Mulder joined me on our staff. God has blessed our work together, and over 3800 people have joined Sunset Church since 1981. Over half of them had not been attending church previously.

Both Ken and I grew up in the Presbyterian Church (USA), loved the church, and were proud to be Presbyterians. We both had a desire to renew the denomination. The last several years, however, both of us have become discouraged in our efforts to renew the PCUSA. Many decisions have been made by leaders in the denomination that have moved it away from a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord of the church and the only means of salvation and from a commitment to the full reliability of the Scriptures as our final authority in matters of faith and practice. It has become increasingly clear to the two of us that there is a significant wing in the denomination who no longer believes the same biblical truth that we do and who desire to take the denomination in a different direction.

Twenty-seven years ago we felt that being part of the PCUSA was an advantage. People were happy to send their children to day camp at a Presbyterian church because it was safe. People felt free to invite their friends to a Presbyterian church for the same reason. We no longer feel this way. Because of decisions the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has made theologically, politically, and socially, we feel our affiliation has become a liability to our efforts to connect people to Jesus. Imagine if Ken and I were on the Titanic on that fateful night when it hit an iceberg and began to sink. As the ship was going down if you saw Ken and I painting chairs on the upper deck, you would say, "What a waste of time! The ship is broken beyond repair and is going down. You need to get off". That is much the way we feel about the PCUSA.

So, over the last three years our Session has been discussing leaving the PCUSA and affiliating with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). The EPC shares our commitment to the authority of the Scripture and the lordship of Christ. They share our mission of connecting people to Jesus. It is a better fit theologically. This last year we began conversations with our Presbytery of the Cascades about our desire to leave the denomination. The discussions have gone quite amicably, and we have reached an exit agreement with the Presbytery Resolution Team that our Session has voted unanimously to accept.

We would like to share this Agreement with you at two informational meetings-- Sunday, September 28 at 12:30 PM following the 11:00 AM service or Wednesday, October 1 at 7:00 PM. Both will be in the sanctuary. The purpose of these meetings is to provide information to Sunset members who have questions about the process, the Joint Agreement itself, future membership options, and any other concerns. It is very important that you attend and be informed. In the weeks following these informational meetings members will be given the privilege before or after our worship services on Sundays October 12, 19, and 26 to express their desire concerning Session's recommendation for Sunset Presbyterian Church to be dismissed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
A letter is being mailed this week to members and attendees of Sunset that will include the Joint Agreement text, and additional documents are available on the church website: www.sunsetpres.org (select "denominational information" on the left side of the home page).

Childcare will be provided only for the October 1 meeting. Make reservations with cindyheinz@sunsetpres.org.

Our goal is to have 100% participation in this process for response. I urge you to prayerfully study the documents, attend one of the meetings, and vote.

Sincerely,
Pastor Ron

Upcoming Events List
If you have questions about any of these events, please contact Dan Larson at danlarson@sunsetpres.org.

September 27 – WIRED – equipping and encouraging all small group leaders to youth and adults October 12 – Annual Meeting (6:30pm)
October 23 – Sanctus Real in Concert
October 24 – Family Unity Night (FUN)October 25 – Parent Seminar (put on by Student Ministry)

And save these dates!
Hymn Night, Sunday Nov 2nd
Praise Night, Moved! Thanksgiving Eve Nov 26th

Upcoming Service September 28th
"Growing Wise in Following God" Pastor Ron teaching
Worship Leader: Jay McKenneyvocal team, praise band