New Harvest!

“It’s still four months until harvest’?

I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!

They are ripe for harvest.”

(John 4 vs. 35)

            We are in the fall of the year and in the Midwest our fields are full of bounty. We had a wet spring and the crops have developed well. We tilled, planted, watered, pruned and now we will harvest. Along the way there was wind, rain, hail, heat and all the forces of nature that we have no control over. For the most part, where we live, the crops have done well.

            Jesus is not talking about a food harvest, his disciples are. Jesus is talking about making converts, telling the story, inviting people to worship. To that task there are no seasons. Hold on to that thought because there just may be times of harvest in our churches; times when we are more invitational than others.

            There are times when we are fairly open to inviting people to worship, Easter, Christmas, rally Sunday and many special events throughout the year. It is fairly easy and most of us feel comfortable inviting people to join us at those special times. However, there are 52 weeks a year and most of us hold on to our invitations to worship way too much. 

            We are all proud of our faith, our congregations, and our church and are willing to share on special occasions. We are asked to “…open your eyes and look at the fields!” In the fall, people have closed their lake homes, returned to the city routine. Often that includes sleeping in on Sunday morning! These are the fields that Jesus mentions!

            Our church year is just beginning and many Christian churches are declining in membership. Now is a great time to initiate an invitational ministry. What I mean is talk about the exciting things that will occur this fall and invite someone to come along with you!

Thought for Today: Many of us are members of declining Christian churches. Today let’s think about why.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our troubled world seems to often take control of our lives. Trouble seems to supersede your will. Today we give thanks that in our personal world we have a choice to follow you. We pray that we can choose to contribute to doing your will here on earth by following Jesus teachings.