Identity, Work, and Worship

A note from Pastor Ryan...

We are First Christian Church, an open, inclusive, Christ-centered family of faith.

How do we live into our identity?

The full power of a congregation, who embodies a family of faith, is released when the whole church has ownership to include and embrace all ages, from 2 months to 82 years, into the full life of the congregation.  This is the work of worship.  This is proclaiming, as we did in our reading and singing last Sunday: “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” (cf. Psalm 103); not: “Bless my soul, O Lord.”

The worship of Almighty God is one of the few, if not the only, foundation of our fellowship as Christians. Our worship events include song, prayer, The Lord ’s Supper, reading, and listening; all of Sunday morning is meant to draw us with the Spirit’s tether to one another and to God.  This is why First Christian Church will soon practice multigenerational worship.  Our music genre does not change; neither do our sacred texts, but everything we do must include and embrace all ages.  Distractions of any sort, whether they be coughing, cell phone ringing, children whispering, or babies crying, do not keep us from worship, as if external circumstances have that power.  If the followers of Jesus can worship in chains, in hiding, in sickness, in jungles (without air conditioning), in prison or in peril, First Christian Church Ruidoso can learn to worship with multiple generations.

Central to worship of Almighty God is active discipleship in the life, teachings, and passion of Jesus the Christ.  Static faith is akin to no faith at all.  Our spirits are forever inflaming in desire for what is hidden, by means of what is already grasped.  One sure way for the next generation to grow into devoted faith in Christ is by intentional practice and observation of discipleship in adults.  Worship cannot be taught, it must be caught.  Therefore, we all must engage in active discipleship; realizing that arrival will only happen when, in death, we come into Glory.  Discipleship is always self-sacrificing (cf. Luke 9:23) and multigenerational discipleship is no different.

Through the work of worship, the self-sacrifice of discipleship, and the healing of hopelessness, we participate in the Kingdom of God.  This is what First Christian Church does.  We are an open, inclusive, Christ-centered family of faith.  This is who First Christian Church is.  For our congregation to live into our identity we need you to be part of the family!  We need your prayer, your passion, your devotion, your stewardship, and your leadership; simply, we need you!

Grace,
Pastor Ryan