This Month's News

October 2009:  Newsletter (as pdf) Calendar (as pdf)

November 2009:  Newsletter (as pdf) Calendar (as pdf)

New Ground!!

In the Gospel according to John, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”  In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew’s recording of the gospel, Jesus says to His disciples, “You are the light of the world.”  Both things are so. Christ is the One, True Light – the light that shines in the darkness and which the darkness cannot overcome.  We, Jesus’ disciples, are His human body in the world today.  He has no hands but our hands now, He has no legs but our legs now, and He has no mouths but our mouths now. We disciples are meant to reflect His inextinguishable light. That’s why Jesus said that we too, are the light of the world and added, “Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE would be a great mission statement for any church.

I firmly believe our church building and its people are shining in this community through devotion to God and servant love for our neighbors. We are drawing men, women and children around us into a new relationship with God and with us. The building is a beautiful tool, a facility, for letting our light shine, for making a difference in the world around us, for Christ’s sake. May we continue to put this tool called Otterbein to good use!

On September 16, 2009, after months of negotiations, there was land settlement for three lots in the Old Forge Development on the Carlisle-side (north) of our present property.  Currently you can recognize the new acquisition by the newly planted grass. The cost was in excess of $225,000. The good news….it will most likely be paid in seven months. As you approach Thanksgiving this year, please give God thanks for this achievement. It may be a few years before the new ground starts fulfilling its purpose for ministry, but when needed it will be available.

I will repeat what I have said before: The Church is the holy people of God. The church’s building is only a tool, a facility meant to enable the Church’s ministry of proclamation and outreach in Christ’s name…to our members, our neighbors, and the stranger who comes to our door. We will prove the value of this undertaking in terms of the money it cost, the time it took, the discomfort it generated, the energy it demanded and the prayer with which we embraced it WHEN WE SEE IT FUNCTIONING to its fullest. This is sacred work and I thank all who were involved.

 See you at Otterbein this Sunday!

 Pastor Dan Dennis