A Message from Rev. Richard Gould
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
Been quite a year! Last January we were ‘doing church’ as we have done for some 42 years. This January we are ‘doing church’ in both a new way, and an old way.
What’s new? As of this month, Ranchos is on its own. Although we continue to have a ‘sister’ relationship with First, we are now separate entities. In November, 2015, when we learned of First’s desire to call its own pastor and thus sever a long-standing shared ministry, Ranchos could have moped, sat back, and faded silently into the darkness. Not us! Rather, in about 9 months, offices were constructed, staff was hired, membership has grown, worship attendance has increased… There is a refreshed, vital, spirit in our church!
We indeed are a new creation! And there is more to come!
Why has Ranchos done so well doing something new? Because we continue to rely on much that is old and established in our congregation:
Jesus is in our midst! We bring him with us in our hearts, he dwells among us during worship, and then we take him with us as we go back into the world as disciples. Even as things change in the church, he does not; our Lord is our bedrock! Ranchos has always been this way, and we shall continue.
We genuinely care about each other. Every Sunday is part worship, part family reunion. During the preceding six days, all of us have been scattered about living our Monday through Saturday lives. Then on Sunday – fittingly the first day of a new week – our church family gathers again not just to worship, but to catch up with each other; to talk, laugh, weep, hug…and wish each other well for the week to come. Ranchos has always been this way, and we shall continue.
We have a long, proud, history! Ranchos Presbyterian Church has been here for about 125 years. Passionate, devout, women and men started our church back-in the-day, and their devotion has been passed down heart-to-heart, spirit-to-spirit, through many generations. All us have inherited the faith of our founders; our spiritual DNA is stout, time-tested, stuff! Now that it is our turn to continue the ministry of Ranchos Presbyterian, we shall carry on vigorously! Ranchos has always been this way, and we shall continue.
In the months to come, there will be challenges, but for the most part they are welcome ones. How do we better care for one another? How do we expand our ministry, especially to our own community? How do we better please Jesus in our life together? How do we best grow our church?
I am looking forward to it…
With excitement and love,
Richard
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
Been quite a year! Last January we were ‘doing church’ as we have done for some 42 years. This January we are ‘doing church’ in both a new way, and an old way.
What’s new? As of this month, Ranchos is on its own. Although we continue to have a ‘sister’ relationship with First, we are now separate entities. In November, 2015, when we learned of First’s desire to call its own pastor and thus sever a long-standing shared ministry, Ranchos could have moped, sat back, and faded silently into the darkness. Not us! Rather, in about 9 months, offices were constructed, staff was hired, membership has grown, worship attendance has increased… There is a refreshed, vital, spirit in our church!
We indeed are a new creation! And there is more to come!
Why has Ranchos done so well doing something new? Because we continue to rely on much that is old and established in our congregation:
Jesus is in our midst! We bring him with us in our hearts, he dwells among us during worship, and then we take him with us as we go back into the world as disciples. Even as things change in the church, he does not; our Lord is our bedrock! Ranchos has always been this way, and we shall continue.
We genuinely care about each other. Every Sunday is part worship, part family reunion. During the preceding six days, all of us have been scattered about living our Monday through Saturday lives. Then on Sunday – fittingly the first day of a new week – our church family gathers again not just to worship, but to catch up with each other; to talk, laugh, weep, hug…and wish each other well for the week to come. Ranchos has always been this way, and we shall continue.
We have a long, proud, history! Ranchos Presbyterian Church has been here for about 125 years. Passionate, devout, women and men started our church back-in the-day, and their devotion has been passed down heart-to-heart, spirit-to-spirit, through many generations. All us have inherited the faith of our founders; our spiritual DNA is stout, time-tested, stuff! Now that it is our turn to continue the ministry of Ranchos Presbyterian, we shall carry on vigorously! Ranchos has always been this way, and we shall continue.
In the months to come, there will be challenges, but for the most part they are welcome ones. How do we better care for one another? How do we expand our ministry, especially to our own community? How do we better please Jesus in our life together? How do we best grow our church?
I am looking forward to it…
With excitement and love,
Richard