Dear Countryside Church family,
I can’t believe it’s September. Because of Covid 19, I feel as though I started working at Countryside in March of 2020, doing some in person and many video sermons. A year and a half with Countryside has been such a blessing. When I think back to the first time that I ever walked in the building (Don and Donna Vickroy gave me a tour) and all of the changes that have been made to it since then, it’s just amazing.
Think for a moment about these changes… The lobby was filled with original church pews, the communion table was at the front center of the stage, the choir loft wall projected across the front of the stage, the little preaching platform that I stand on did not exist. All of those changes were made to accommodate our indoor services after being outside for COVID. Then we started Kids Club and Construction Club which led to the remodeling of the lower lobby with the decorative wall that says “Welcome Home” and the replaced floor. We made our way up into the hall, changing the carpet, adding brighter lights, bulletin boards, and windows in the doors of the classrooms. And now the entryway in the main lobby has been opened up and new carpet is going in. That is a lot of transformation! That is a lot of change.
I often refer to the church building as a tool. It’s good to have a good sharp tool to get the work done. But the church building is only a tool. A better question we should all ask ourselves is… in the last 18 months, has there been any change in your heart? We meet together for Sunday morning Worship, Tuesday morning Bible study, Wednesday evening Bible study, and Sunday School has started again. These are all designed to sharpen us spiritually. It’s easy to look down the hall and see new carpet. Sometimes, personally, it’s more difficult to look inside down the hallways of our heart and ask is anything new?
Please allow the changes to the building to be an example or even a motivation to rework the interior of your soul. Spend time in prayer, spend time reading your Bible, spend time reaching out, calling your church family, and being involved with one another’s lives. Become more like Jesus in all that you do… be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
In Christ,
Steve
