Value #1: Excellence in Ministry
A Word to Our Congregation from Our Senior Pastor
The values of a church are more than words printed on a page. They describe the kind of people we are prayerfully becoming together. The five devotionals I’ve written for this week invite every member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church to reflect on the convictions that guide our shared ministry.
These values of our church are:
Excellence in Ministry
Primacy of Scripture
Generous Outreach
Warm Hospitality
Thoughtful Innovation
Each new day should begin with Scripture, draw wisdom from history, and then turn our efforts toward fulfilling our shared calling at St. Andrew UMC to grow our church. Our shared purpose is not simply to admire these values but to put them into practice. As we offer God our best, root ourselves in the Bible, give of ourselves generously, welcome others warmly, and remain open to faithful new approaches to ministry, we make room for Christ to work through us and grow God’s kingdom here on earth.
May these devotionals strengthen our unity, enlarge our vision, and inspire each of us to take a faithful step forward. God has already blessed St. Andrew UMC with a rich heritage and many devoted people. Together, by God’s grace, we can build upon that foundation and move confidently into the future God is preparing for us.
Blessings,
Pastor Geoff
Value #1: Excellence in Ministry
Excellence as an Offering
“Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters.” Colossians 3:23, NRSV
There is an important difference between excellence and perfectionism. Perfectionism is usually driven by fear, or the fear of failure, criticism, embarrassment, or not measuring up. Christian excellence is driven by love. It is the desire to offer God our best because God has already given us grace beyond measure.
The apostle Paul reminds us that even ordinary work can become holy when it is done for the Lord. A task does not have to be performed from a pulpit or accompanied by music to become a ministry. Preparing a classroom, answering a telephone, rehearsing a hymn, inviting someone to church, repairing part of the building, serving a meal, ushering, visiting a neighbor, or checking on someone who is lonely can all become offerings to God. Excellence begins when we remember who ultimately receives our work.
Johann Sebastian Bach understood this. At the conclusion of many of his musical manuscripts, Bach wrote the words “Soli Deo Gloria,” which means, “Glory to God alone.” His surviving manuscripts also reveal writing that was notably clear and orderly. Bach’s music required extraordinary discipline and craftsmanship, but his inscriptions pointed beyond the musician to the One for whom the music was offered. His excellence was not meant to stop with applause for Bach; it was directed toward the praise of God.
At St. Andrew UMC, our passion for excellence in ministry should never mean that everything must be expensive, elaborate, or flawless. It means that we prepare carefully, follow through faithfully, treat people respectfully, and keep learning. It means that we do not settle for “good enough” when greater care might help someone encounter Christ. It also means that when we make mistakes, we receive grace, learn, and improve rather than becoming discouraged.
As your pastor, I want us to become a congregation known for doing the small things well because we understand that small things often carry great spiritual weight. A warm greeting may determine whether a guest returns. A carefully prepared lesson may help a child remember that God loves them. A timely telephone call may reach someone just when hope is fading. Excellence is love made visible through preparation, attention, and faithfulness.
God is not asking us to compete with other churches. God is inviting us to become the most faithful version of St. Andrew UMC we can be. When each person offers their best, God gathers those offerings and uses them in ways no one person could accomplish alone.
Action for Today
Choose one ordinary responsibility and give it unusual care. Before beginning, pray, “Lord, let this be an offering to you.”
