Pastor’s Ponderings—April 2025

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

We are fast approaching Holy Week, remembering the last week of Christ’s life. Maundy Thursday is April 17th and will commemorate the Last Supper. Good Friday is April 18th and “once again (we) look upon the cross where (He) died.” Yet the glorious day of Resurrection is not far away, Easter Sunday is April 20th. You likely do not need me to remind you. If anything, major retailers are so desperate to sell their candy supply, they’re advertising markdowns have reached you. We know that Easter is coming, have you made plans?

COVID-19 brought with it disruption in worship patterns. Barna’s surveys from 2020 found that a third of people stopped worshipping, and follow-up surveys indicate that they have not returned to worship virtually or in-person. Some virtual worshippers have considered returning in-person, yet have not made the leap. Out of the habit and comfortable with the virtual offerings, it’s difficult to step out and return. Many found virtual offerings unsatisfying and do not participate actively.

So let me offer that if you have been thinking about worshipping this Easter—stop thinking about it and just do it. And here’s how. Get involved in worship by:

• Worship virtually and be active. Sing the songs. Pray the liturgy. Comment and react to the video.

• Make an active plan to be in-person. Set out clothes the night before—even know what your breakfast is going to be. Remove the obstacles that would keep you from going.

• Ask a friend who is attending worship virtually or in-person. Their support can help get you going again.

Ready to go? Just haven’t done it in a while? It’s hard to get back into a habit. The good news is that for many of us we get to sleep in on Sunday still and make it in time for worship. Here’s some suggestions to rebuild the habit:

• Review the previous week’s service. Our services from previous weeks are on Facebook. This can help prepare you and relieve anxiety regarding expectations.

• Go with a friend! Having someone else to go with increases the odds you’ll actually do something. It’s called support and is one of the main purposes of the Church. (Bonus points if you invite someone who hasn’t been attending too!)

Thinking about someone who hasn’t been in a while? Over 80% of people in Ohio are not in worship on any given weekend. We all know someone and care about them. So, let’s be invitational:

• Ask, don’t tell.

• Share your Sunday service video with them and invite them to join you for worship.

• Offer a ride.

• If they counter with an offer to go to another congregation (and you know they haven’t attended in a while), go with them (just let your pastor know you’re on a mission!).

• If they aren’t comfortable with in-person worship, help them get connected virtually.

Let’s be like Hebrews 10:25. Get back in the habit of gathering for worship and encouraging one another!

Blessings,

Jason

Pastor’s Ponderings—March 2025

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

We are entering a very busy season in the life of the Church. Ash Wednesday is March 5th and we’ll have our traditional soup supper and service with imposition of ashes as a reminder of our mortality and need for God’s grace.

Our Lenten series will begin the Sunday before Lent actually begins, the Seven Last Words of Christ. This message is dedicated for each of the utterances that Christ offered while being crucified for our sake. Six of these messages will be on Sunday morning, the final one will be at the Maundy Thursday service April 17th.

It is my hope that we all lean into the Attendance Rally that will be going on through Easter. I have used this as a fun and engaging way of encouraging the congregation to become invitational. First, by helping to practice on reaching out to others within the congregation that are a part of our team. This increases congregational care in a way that few others duplicate. Secondly, we work towards bringing new people to worship who are not currently a part of our fellowship. It’s also great practice for the fall when Back to Church Sunday comes around.

We are beginning a cohort for new members who are interested in joining the professing membership at Marion Salem Church. This is also an adventure and gives us an opportunity to deepen our faith. It is not too late to join the class if you are interested. We are meeting Sundays after worship. Currently there are 7 participants.

I am leading the youth group through a series on Essentials of Faith from RightNow Media. Our current study is on God’s Word and it has been too good not to share with others in the church as well. I hope you avail yourself the opportunity to join the youth group on Sunday evenings at 6:30 or to watch the series on your own.

Coming up sooner than we think is our annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction. Originally conceived as a fundraiser for our youth group, over recent years it has supported many great mission causes. Now, we are back to supporting ministry here at Salem by helping to fund a new position that we are working on, the Family Life Director. This position is envisioned to have hands on responsibility for our youth group (Grades 6-12), leading their discipleship on Sunday evenings and planning other activities. Also, this position will provide guidance and administrative support for our children’s ministry on Sunday mornings, be hands on during a future mid-week children’s activity, and also planning for other family ministry opportunities. Please continue to give your prayer support to the Staff Parish Relations Committee as they step out into this adventure.

We have a new 13-week study coming up on Sunday nights. Bible study on Mondays and Wednesdays continue. The Sunday School Classes continue in their activities: Renaissance/JOY is preparing for Lent, Genesis is looking at Shane Wood’s Daniel series on RightNow, Crusaders are working on the Gospel of John with Tony Evans on RightNow, the Upper Room is focused on a discipleship deck, and the young adults class after worship is wrapping up Being Human from RightNow. These are all great opportunities to grow as disciples of Christ. At Salem the only excuse to not be growing is one we make up—there are simply that many opportunities!

So that’s a wrap up of what’s happening. As Lent begins there is something for you to be involved with whether it is growing as a disciple or helping others to grow as a disciple. It may not seem like it right now, but this is a prime season for spiritual sowing—and we know that we reap what we sow. That means we need to be generous with our sowing.

Blessings!

Jason

Pastor’s Ponderings—February 2025

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

 realize that Easter is still 3 months away, however we are preparing for the day now. No, it’s not quite time for Lent. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, which is March 5th this year. There are, however, several things to prepare even in advance of Lent. Let me explain. In the apostolic era, Lent was a season of discipleship. Those who were preparing for baptism on Easter Sunday would have been involved in a 2-year learning process called catechesis (cat-a-key-sis). The last part of which was observed in Lent as a 40-day fast and review of all the spiritual disciplines they had been taught prior to baptism on Easter Sunday. In later periods of Church history, the 2-year waiting period was dropped, however, the preparation for baptism during Lent continued. Some of the origins for confirmation classes come from this time.

During the weeks of Lent this year, I plan on offering a baptism/confirmation/ membership class. The materials are the same, the circumstances of those attending are what makes the difference. If you have never been baptized then we would prepare towards that and perhaps professing membership if you were to choose that (you must be baptized to be a full professing member). If you were baptized as an infant or child, then confirmation and professing membership would be your path. Finally, if you have been baptized and are seeking to become a professing member at Salem, then the class would be your gateway to that journey. Whether it is baptism, confirmation, or membership, all three of these are steps on the lifelong journey of discipleship—they are not destinations.

If you sense God calling you into a deeper part of the faith journey, please seek me out before February 16th. I need to know who will be participating so that together we can plan the best times for meeting together.

Blessings!
Jason

Pastor’s Ponderings January 2025

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

When you look at the history records, the Salem Class meeting began in 1830, which means our congregation is celebrating 195 years of ministry. The first church building was erected in 1851, that would make it 174 years. At our present location, we’ve been serving the community since 1868, 157 years. The sanctuary has been around since 1981, celebrating 44 years. Of course, after the fire our present configuration goes back 22 years. We are certainly close to a bicentennial celebration. We could brush up on pronouncing demisemiseptcentennial and practice celebrating with the 175 anniversary of a Salem Church building in 2026. Whether for the 175th in 2026 or the 200th in 2030, such celebrations take planning and people committed to recognizing the work of Christ that has and is happening at Salem Church. As time marches on, these days will come and go whether or not we recognize them. I believe it better to praise God as these milestones come, and in the sacrifice of praise, find His empowerment and direction for the future.

So, what would you like to see happen in a celebration either 175 or 200 years? What should the focus be of the celebration, inward or outward? Can we, in honor and recognition of the milestone, do some extravagant acts of mission work in our community and even the world to make disciples of Christ? I’m curious what this Body of Christ is dreaming about. As you ponder that, consider also what actions your God-given dreams are asking you to do in service to Christ. With it being January, why not make those actions your New Year’s resolution?

Blessings,
Jason

 

Pastor’s Ponderings—December 2024

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy! 

On November 12th, a small group from Salem Church gathered in the sanctuary for our annual church conference. Part of that meeting includes the pastor sharing a vision statement for the congregation. What I shared that evening is important to the future of Salem Church and needs to be shared with the congregation at large. It would take too much space to reprint it in our newsletter, so for space sake, I am offering an abbreviated version of the six items that I believe we need to take on. There is hard truth telling that we need to do: 

• We need to fill the vacancy in our youth director position. More importantly we need more interest shown by the congregation in our youth. 

• Ideally, we need to actively work towards a family life director—not just a youth director. It is the lack of programming for the entire family that has caused two active young families to seek out other congregations in the last two months. How can we grow if we cannot hold onto those already here? 

• This congregation needs a lay leader. This pastor needs a lay leader. The lay leader is the chief cheerleader or encourager for the congregation. Helping everyone to connect their life as disciples in church to their everyday life as witnesses of Jesus Christ in the home, workplace, school, neighborhood and community. 

• Our facilities are well cared for, however we have big ticket items (roof and HVAC being two) that require us to go beyond a regular maintenance budget. Salem’s facilities were designed to hold 200+, yet we worship on average 91. We need a building and capital campaign that will account for all these needs over the next several years before they overwhelm us. This includes plans for future parsonage families years from now. 

• We need to encourage spiritual generosity. Salem is excellent at mission giving. We need to work on stewardship for budget planning purposes by participating in New Consecration Sunday. In looking at the future, we should also prepare for a potential funding gap through endowed gifts and utilize partners that make such giving possible. 

• We need to prayerfully dedicate a group of people to the work of a Vision Team. This team would articulate a preferred future for Salem, and they would provide the ground work for a disciple making system to get us there. They would spend much time in prayer and learning and pass their findings on to the Ad Council for adoption or action. 

Nothing of what I share here is new. I have mentioned such things going back to the Pastor Meet and Greets last summer. While I am putting words and framework to these items, none of this is unique to me either as others have shared these thoughts as well.

The end of the story is this: we have a lot of work to do. Disaffiliation is easy in comparison to the hard work that being and making disciples asks of us all. I shared at the church conference that we have two years to make inroads on these matters before we are overwhelmed by decline and forced to make drastic and unwelcome changes. Unprompted, the elder presiding at our church conference echoed that sentiment and warned that other churches have had the same opportunity, squandered the time they had, and now struggle to do the ministry they feel God calls them to do. I know that there are many good people here at Salem ready to step up to the work God has called us to do. Now is the time to dedicate ourselves to it. 

Blessings!

Jason

 1640 Salem Road, Caledonia, OH 43314 

419-947-5383 • MarionSalemChurch.org 

10 am Worship 9 am Sunday School 

 

 

Pastor’s Ponderings November 2024

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

One of the blessings our family has on vacation is we get to worship without much responsibility. That is a rare treat for pastoral families. We’ve had the opportunity to attend three Global Methodist congregations while on vacation in the past year. The Forge is located on the parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN. They have two services, Sunday school, Children’s church, etc. Chickasaw GM Church near Mobile, AL was our vacation worship experience this past January. They are much the same as The Forge, with a much smaller parking lot. Finally, the congregation we attended while at Myrtle Beach was Andrew’s Chapel just over the state line in Ash, NC.

Now, I recognize we’re a big family. At the Forge, there are a few open pews. They are a well attended church, just not packed (especially at the late service on Sunday). At Chickasaw, in order for us to have a pew together a couple moved up one pew so that there would be space for us to squeeze in together. Finally, as you’ve heard at Andrew’s Chapel, it was standing room only and while people squeezed together, we were still spread across several rows sitting in front of each other. Now, I’m not complaining—I’m just curious what is it that makes Andrew’s and Chickasaw packed, The Forge a little room to spare, and Salem have lots of open seats? And I’m pondering it and turning it over in my head. Here’s what I know it isn’t:

1) While the Forge and Chickasaw are “in town,” Andrew’s most definitely is not in town, nor on the road most traveled—so more like Salem. It isn’t location (though Andrew’s is getting a couple new subdivisions).

2) It’s not because of population growth because they are basically holding their own between –3% and +2%. (That’s for their immediate area the past four years. Their reach, like ours, could be a different story.)

3) It’s not connected with something in their programming. All three congregations have similar ministries to Salem. The Forge has two appointed clergy, though we’ve never met their associate pastor in three years.

As I look at what I know about the three congregations we have visited and compare to Salem, from the outside there is just really not that much different between us and them. However, internally there might be a world of difference between all four congregations. It has been many years since I have been a part of any congregation that was standing room only. There is something about the spirit of the people who are there that you cannot help to want to investigate: what is different about this place?

Here’s where I think the difference comes: They all talk about “US,” the church family as a whole. This is especially true of Andrew’s Chapel. They have experienced sustained and explosive growth as a congregation for the last year. The pastor told me that as people have joined they have become a part of the family and more keep coming. There are not “new people” and “old people” – simply disciples of Christ growing together. There is no differentiation.

Salem has been through drastic changes these past 3+ years. One of the biggest is the amount of active people who are new and perhaps equally the number of new leaders answering the call. We are still getting to know one another and learning to have the kind of trust on a large scale that makes possible the spirit that was so evident at Andrew’s Chapel. They did not magically start growing overnight – it was a conscious effort they made to focus on being the Body of Christ together, long before disaffiliation. And it was more than growth that was special there. It was the Spirit. That takes all of us intentionally leaning into building relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ to create the environment where that trust is found. So let’s invest time together for the future.

Blessings!

Jason

Pastor’s Ponderings October 2024

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

October is such an incredibly busy month; I’m always impressed with how it sneaks up on me and can become overwhelming. Our 19th Anniversary is on Oct. 1, and we have plans as usual to go on a family vacation (though we’re going to the beach and not the mountains) over the second weekend in October. October 6th is World Communion Sunday, a day set aside by many Christians around the world to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in unity.

Here at the church, we’re gearing up for the Charge Conference season which means the Nominations Team has been very busy preparing the slate of officers for next year. We’re also entering budget planning for 2025 and your leadership is working diligently with a new process now that we have a year of actual expenses and receipts to plan from.

A group of  Sunday School leaders has joined together to bring back the Donuts & Devos time on the first Sunday of each month. I understand that on October 6th, we’ll have a joint time of learning together at the 9am hour following fellowship at 8:30am.

Our Outreach Team has taken on the task of supporting our local Gideon Camps and helping them to recruit more members to spread God’s Word. That event is Saturday, Oct. 19. On the 20th, we’ll have a Family Fall Party at Tony and Charisse Smith’s. And, as I type this, the Conveying Conference is wrapping up its penultimate day and heading for a finale tomorrow.

By the end of the month, my attention will return to matters at home again. Emily is preparing for surgery on Oct. 31. Your prayers are certainly welcome as we begin that journey of recovery. Which brings me back to: October is overwhelming. Yet as I was talking to Amy today in the office the phrase came up in conversation, “it all just feels…right.” We have a lot of good work going on now.  Christ is lifted up. Disciples are being encouraged in their walk. And not too long from now—I believe we will see new disciples coming to Christ in our midst.

So, yes, it is busy. Yes, there is much going on to pay attention to and be involved with. There is much to celebrate and strive to achieve. At the end of the day, it is all about Jesus and making disciples.

Blessings,

Jason

 

 

Pastor’s Ponderings

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

September is the beginning of the school year, and with it comes many of the rebuilding of habits that were let go during the summer months. One of my prayers each September is that the congregation joins together to engage in worship as a weekly habit. That each of us steps up to the plate and makes Sunday morning attendance a priority. I also hope that we encourage each other in this habit: by invitation, by encouragement, by offering rides. The only way we will make disciples is by reaching out to others. I had hoped that one of the tools you’d receive with this newsletter is the new church directory, and circumstances prevented it’s completion. However, soon you’ll have this tool to encourage each other with.

We are also working towards a deeper discipleship ministry here at Salem Church. Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 3rd at 7pm. This meeting will continue the planning for follow-up ministry after Back to Church Sunday to encourage everyone, especially new guests, in building habits that form us spiritually. Youth group will be starting up again on September 8th. Choir will return on September 10th. We are also gearing up for charge conference in late October or early November—which will be an opportunity to celebrate the work that has been accomplished and push forward dreams of 2025. God is at work, we can be assured of that and also excited to participate. Let’s join Jesus in what He is already doing among us!

The final few lines I’d like to share with you is that the Convening Conference of the Global Methodist Church will be starting September 20th. Unlike our former denomination, one will not walk away from livestreams or daily reports with nausea. An ongoing 40-day prayer and fasting has been preparing for this Conference, and opportunities prayer and worship will continue. I encourage you to go to www.sotheworldwillknow.org conference website, download the 40-day prayer guide and also prepare for the 12-day prayer guide as final preparations and the conference occurs. The Spirit’s move is evident and I am thankful to share in this with you.

Blessings!

Jason

Pastor’s Ponderings

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

It is hard to believe that we are already in the last month of summer. August is now upon us and we are beginning to see the return of habits and routines. I know it might feel early to be talking about September, however the planning stages are on now for National Back to Church Sunday on September 15th. There are several parts and pieces that we will be doing in getting ready for this major event in the life of the Church.

• In August my sermon series will focus on the life of King Hezekiah, encouraging us to understand the importance of legacy. The central question: What are we doing to leave a legacy at Marion Salem Church and what kind of legacy will it be? ¨ T

•The Allegheny West Annual Conference will be holding a Lay Ministry training in Marysville, OH. This is an important training and I would like to see as many people go as possible. The training is September 6 & 7. For more: https://alleghenywestgmc.org/september-2024-awaken-registration/ The registration fee is $75 after August 1 and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

• We’ll be welcoming new members on Sunday, August 25. Following the service, we’ll have a potluck welcoming our new members and a church family fellowship event.

As we think through our legacy, we ought to be inspired (or perhaps challenged) to give our best for the Gospel through Marion Salem Church. In giving our best, it never hurts to learn more about serving in the Church and the Awaken event is only 45 minutes from Salem. Again, I highly encourage your attendance. Awaken will be an opportunity to form relationships with other congregations in our conference who we are working with together to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Finally, the day we receive new members is practice for when we seek to welcome new guests and visitors on Back to Church Sunday.

So get excited church! This is a great time to get involved, live out our faith, and be a disciple of Christ!

Blessings,
Jason

Pastor’s Pondering August 2024

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To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

It is hard to believe that we are already in the last month of summer. August is now upon us and we are beginning to see the return of habits and routines. I know it might feel early to be talking about September, however the planning stages are on now for National Back to Church Sunday on September 15th. There are several parts and pieces that we will be doing in getting ready for this major event in the life of the Church.

• In August my sermon series will focus on the life of King Hezekiah, encouraging us to understand the importance of legacy. The central question: What are we doing to leave a legacy at Marion Salem Church and what kind of legacy will it be? 

• The Allegheny West Annual Conference will be holding a Lay Ministry training in Marysville, OH. This is an important training and I would like to see as many people go as possible. The training is September 6 & 7. For more: https://alleghenywestgmc.org/september-2024-awaken-registration/ The registration fee is $75 after August 1 and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

• We’ll be welcoming new members on Sunday, August 25. Following the service, we’ll have a potluck welcoming our new members and a church family fellowship event.

As we think through our legacy, we ought to be inspired (or perhaps challenged) to give our best for the Gospel through Marion Salem Church. In giving our best, it never hurts to learn more about serving in the Church and the Awaken event is only 45 minutes from Salem. Again, I highly encourage your attendance. Awaken will be an opportunity to form relationships with other congregations in our conference who we are working with together to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Finally, the day we receive new members is practice for when we seek to welcome new guests and visitors on Back to Church Sunday.

So get excited church! This is a great time to get involved, live out our faith, and be a disciple of Christ!

Blessings!

Jason