Hear ye!  Hear ye!
I hear ya loud and clear!
Can you hear me now?  Good!

One element of life that I don’t think about all that often is hearing.  Hearing, and by hearing I mean the active acceptance of a message delivered, must occur for communication to be complete.  If someone cannot hear a message, that message really isn’t a message…it’s a shouting into the wind.

Because we want to ensure that God’s message reaches as many people as possible, the church has made tactical decisions to improve the manner in which that message goes out.  The church has begun making a couple of upgrades in the church building that excite everyone involved.  Both upgrades are happening as I type these words in mid-January. 

Updated sound system

The first began in 2018 when the church trustees asked the question, “Can the sound in the sanctuary be improved?”  Our older sound system did not get better with age.  The soundboard has been in the sanctuary for around 20 years and in those 20 years, not only have parts of the board become broken, but updates in sound technology have come a long, LONG way.  Now that we’re in the digital age, we needed a digital board.  The choir monitor constantly hummed. 

The Trustees invited Stage Sound into a partnership to begin Phase 1 of a sound update in the church sanctuary, beginning with new microphones and monitors in the choir loft and a brand new digital soundboard in the balcony.  Phase 1 should enhance the experience for all, especially the choir.  For Ben Clements, our sound technician, the soundboard will allow him to optimize the sound in a way the analog board never could.  Hearing the message through the prayers, sermon and music will be easier and better than ever.

Updated website

Speaking of hearing, we have a church mission statement, which says, “We want to know Jesus and share His love.”  With this as our mission, our vision is to see people come believe in Jesus Christ and to have Him reshape this community and county. 

If this mission and vision are to shape all aspects of how we do ministry, we asked the question, “What do people see with our current website?”  At the time our former website arrived in the world, it met all the expectations of a guest who might be looking for a church.  As years went by, it did not cut the mustard and showed its age. 

With this in mind, the church reached out to a marketing and web group, Firm Foundations out of Roanoke, to create a brand new church website.  It is live now and it’s dazzling and eye-catching.  Our new site allows us more engagement with those who view it and encourages them to attend on a Sunday morning.

These are exciting times in the life of our church.  I get giddy thinking about all that 2019 might have in store for us as a church and a community.  The message of Christ is hopeful and forward-looking!  We hope that in all areas of the church (and not least, the words that you say) Christ’s message is preached and heard.

In Christ,

Pastor Will