February 18, 2023

Dear Rockford Reformed Church Family and Friends,

You are invited to participate in the special congregational meeting after worship (11:30am) on Sunday, March 5, 2023. The agenda involves a single vote, yes or no, regarding whether you agree with our consistory’s petition to the North Grand Rapids classis to withdraw from the RCA (Reformed Church in America) and join the ARC (Alliance of Reformed Churches). Active members 15 years of age or older are eligible to vote. At least 75% of those voting must vote yes to make this transition from the RCA to the ARC. If you vote to abstain, your vote will have neither a positive nor negative impact.

If you are unable to participate in this special meeting, you may vote absentee. If you require a paper absentee ballot, contact Laura in the office and she will place one in your mail folder or mail one to you. If you are out of town, you may also request an email ballot. All absentee ballots (paper or email) must be returned to the office by 3pm on Friday, March 3. Couples with shared email addresses should submit separate email ballots. All ballots submitted will include a place to provide your name so that classis and RRC representatives can verify one vote for each member.

A classis meeting scheduled for March 21 will likely include a vote to grant our request to leave the RCA and we would at that moment become a part of the ARC. You are always encouraged to contact your care group elder/deacon or me if you have any questions.

We grieve and lament with the MSU community as they struggle in the wake of the tragic shooting. As followers of Jesus, we care for suffering that emerges out of such evil. We care even more for the suffering that is eternal, and so we passionately work and pray for hope, healing, renewal, justice, and peace in our community and beyond.

As we struggle under the chaos of sin, you have often heard me pray for spiritual renewal and in contrast to the MSU tragedy, God is disrupting life at Asbury University and other campuses with an extraordinary working of his Spirit. A revival has broken out beginning with Asbury’s chapel service on February 8. On this day, students and professors were struck by a powerful sense of transcendence and did not want to leave. They have since been packing the chapel and surrounding rooms to joyfully worship, pray, and praise God while they express repentance, confession, and contrition for sin and intercede for healing, wholeness, peace, and justice. One observer noted that “The holy love of the triune God is apparent, and there is an inexpressible sweetness and innate attractiveness to it. It is immediately obvious why no one wants to leave and why those who must leave want to come back as soon as they can.” Praise God!

The Lenten season gets underway next week with Ash Wednesday. Lent was originally inspired by Jesus’ intense prayer and fasting for 40 days in the desert. We can spiritually prepare ourselves to receive and celebrate the death and Easter resurrection of Jesus. You might choose to fast, or abstain from an activity, or change up your daily routine with a greater focus on repentance and prayer. I encourage us all to pray for spiritual renewal, awakening, an outpouring of the Spirit on and within our church family. Pray for yourselves, that God will make the gospel deeply real to your heart and change the way that you live and love those around you.

I have been distributing an article called “Kingdom-Centered Prayer” by Tim Keller to our leaders and staff for a few years now. I encourage you to read/study it so that we can all become better equipped for prayer that leads to God’s gracious work in and through us. God has been wonderfully working his gospel power among us and we yearn for more of his presence, power, and joy.

Our “Priorities” sermon series beginning on this Sunday will focus on equipping us to thrive against the spiritual, technological, and cultural pressures that drive us toward a chaotic, soul-draining busyness. How can we better manage our time and life so that Jesus and his kingdom become the supreme treasure of our life?

Thank you for your prayers as I preached for a struggling rural congregation last Sunday. God’s Word and Spirit worked to soften and encourage hearts toward change.

Jesus deserves our love, worship, and obedience. I look forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.

Grace, peace, and love,

Pastor Tim