Transformation Update
November 2008

Our transformation discussions continue within the Session, the Deacons, the Healthy Church Team and our youth group.  Each group has selected a Biblical 'framing' story (or several) in response to the homework assignment by our coach, Denise Van Eck.  The framing story is intended to capture or 'frame' the Ashland story and our journey together.  Representatives from each group will come together soon to share our story selections and narrow the story selections down.  We will also continue to refine our word definitions and values list (Community, Faith, Love, Commitment, Mission and Celebration).  In addition, we will begin work in earnest on our vision and mission statements.  Our plan is to share the fruit of this work over the coming months.

During the last several months, a small group has been meeting at Ashlnad on Wednesday evenings to discuss transformation at Ashland, to pray for our members and friends and to ask God to continue His work within the Ashland community.  We meet in the sanctuary where we gather by candlelight.  The last couple of meetings some of us have shared anecdotes and presonal insights on how God is at work at Ashland.  Through our conversations and prayer, each of us has been touched and feels that God is working in and on each of us.  You are invited to participate in this discussion / prayer group on any Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Once again, please consider Paul's awesome message to the early church in Rome:

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you:  Take your everyday, ordinary life-- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life- and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.  You'll be changed from the inside out.  Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.  Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."   (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)

May God continue to bless our Ashland Community and may we discern what He wants us to be and what He wants us to do.   May the Peace of Christ be with you and your family during this time of Thanksgiving and Advent!

Ron Baldwin, Elder