What's Your Piece?

In Elder's Team meetings lately we have been discussing the biblical, historical and present role of elders in our church. The subject came up for a couple of reasons, one being when we add new elders to our mix they naturally want to know what it is they need to be doing. The other reason is, as with any job, when the expectations are high and the instructions are vague, much stress and burnout may result. Our expectations are high not because we serve a demanding bunch, but because we want to see the kingdom come and the gospel lived. And because we always want to see more. So in order to better serve as elders and to stay healthy as individuals, we are discussing, praying about and contemplating our role.

There are some things that are very clear to us. We want to be a church that is about all of us living the gospel, not a church where the leaders do everything and the people come to watch. When people come and join us we want them to participate with us and to be a disciple of Jesus. I think of it sometimes as though CV is a big picture, and each of us are a part of it, like in a puzzle. Together as we serve Jesus the whole picture becomes visible. I personally like this idea, since I often tend to look at my piece all on its own, and think that it doesn't look like much of anything. But of course, when you put a puzzle together you know that each piece on its own shows pretty much nothing at all of the whole picture!

So what piece of the picture am I? What piece are you? This month we had elder homework. We are each contemplating some personal questions to help us zero in a bit more and better identify our roles, or our own piece of the puzzle.

Since CV is the sum of its members, I thought I would put the questions up here, re-written to be applicable to all of us - they are great 'food for thought'!

What questions do you have about being a part of CV (Cambridge Vineyard)?

Why are you a part of CV?

Do you feel you have a specific role in the team?

How does your role fit with the other members of CV?

Finish the sentence: I am a disciple of Jesus to _____

If you are in a small group this might make an interesting discussion. And of course you can also comment on here if you wish, or talk to any of us in person.

Shelley Maw

P.S. Something to think about: Allowing others to witness your life as you learn and love and struggle and hurt and serve and give and receive...this is being a witness to Jesus.