• Together: We’ll walk side-by-side through various topics and practices, talking along they way about how God is leading us. The Council is going to encourage all of us to be involved in this journey. Along with that, we are going to be encouraging the members to talk openly with each other about their faith journeys. Where are we struggling? Where are we doing well? These conversations might happen in your small groups. They might happen one-on-one with other believers. They might be conversations between Council members and those in their districts. And they might just happen informally as people encounter each other…on the journey!
• Journey: We’ll each start at different spots in our faith journey, but we’ll all move in the same direction as we walk the path toward maturity. We will be expecting to see growth as we open ourselves to the work of God through His Word, His Spirit and His people. What will that look like? We never know until it happens! Some might make great strides; others, baby steps. Regardless how fast we travel on our journey, each step is a step in the right direction – toward maturity in our faith. For that, we will give thanks.
• Maturity: We’ll spend time daily listening to God through His Word and through prayer (devotionals will be available in print and via email). As has happened before, I will be writing devotions for each day over the next three months. I make these available to you in order to make it easy to remember and to be involved. Some might be doing other devotions already. Great! I don’t know ahead of time how and when God wants to speak to you. I just know that if you open His Word, you are more likely to hear Him when He speaks.
• Faith: We’ll grow in our knowledge of the Christian faith and our obedience to our risen Lord. Over the course of these three months, we will look at issues within the Christian life that are absolutely essential for every believer to understand and accept. We’ll also be looking at practices that are a part of almost every Christian’s life. Our desire will not be to simply gain new knowledge. Our goal will be to embrace the teachings of the Bible and to embark on the Way of Jesus.

So, mark your calendars! On January 1, 2012, we are going to start ”Playing Church.”Huh? No, that’s not a misprint. We are going to start “playing church.” Just as children play cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians, so also we are going to take on the role and the lifestyle of Christians. We will think like and act like Christians by participating in spiritual disciplines that have strengthened Christians for years. But we won’t be pretending. We will be living by faith what we are becoming. (Go ahead, read that sentence again!)And since we are “Playing Church,” WE WILL LAUGH AND HAVE FUN! In church! And as the Church! We will accept the freedom to fail – because we are trying new things. We will give others the freedom to fall down – and we’ll extend our hand to them to help them up. We will strive to be disciplined – and will ask the Holy Spirit to help us when we aren’t. We will experience joy – as followers of Jesus Christ.So, what do you need to do now?