Pastor Jeremy's Welcome
I remember years ago being intimidated by a pastor I worked with. He always spoke with authority, and he made sure that his word was law in the church where he worked. Ever since I became a pastor myself, I've been trying (not always successfully) to let people know that I really don't expect to get my way, and I'm always interested in hearing what you are thinking, feeling, and wondering.
So right here, I want to invite and encourage you—yes, you—to call me up and give me a piece of your mind. Or just invite me out for a cup of coffee and a chat. This is important to me not only because that old pastor was such a meanie. It's important because face-to-face conversation is the way Jesus did his job. I want to be a little more like Jesus in the way I'm a pastor.
If you come to worship, you'll find that I'm trying very hard to be honest about what I say. I'm not going to spout out simple religious sayings just because they're easy. I'm going to ask hard questions, and deal with tricky pieces of the Bible. And I'm going to tell you where I have doubts and uncertainties, and disagreements with the official tradition of the church.
The same goes for our Bible studies. Too many people have given up on churches, not because they don't want to hear about God, but because churches and church leaders have failed to be honest about what they really believe.
Do we have the hippest church with all the best programs? No. Are we doing everything right, while everyone else does everything wrong? No. But if you're looking for a place to continue your search for the heart of God, this is a great community to be part of. I look forward to seeing you.