The Hive is Humming & Welcome Jason Turner
Summer is here and although things begin to slow down around the suburbs of Chicago, Elmhurst CRC is still a hive of activity! This week, we saw some long-term results of our collective labor come to beautiful fruition. First, the launch of the Elmhurst Farmers Market happened on Wednesday despite a bit of rain, wind, and cooler weather. There was so much fresh, delicious food to eat onsite and take home for dinner.
Second, I’m ecstatic to share that our search for a full-time Director of Congregational Engagement has resulted in hiring Rev. Jason Turner to lead this critical part of church’s life and ministry. Some of us may remember Jason as the pastor at Faith Methodist Church at the corner of York and North Avenue in Elmhurst. While pastoring there, Jason pioneered the Kids Crossing Vacation Bible School and the Accessible Hearts worship service to help God’s people with mental and physical challenges experience more of the closeness and goodness of God.
Four years ago, Jason, Heather, and their two daughters - Emily and Maddie - joined Elmhurst CRC. Jason has served at Phil’s Friends, a Christian nonprofit that supports those affected by cancer, and has also been serving as an Army Reserve Chaplain and Captain. For the past year, Jason has been on active duty, deployed in the Middle East. I’m so thankful that he’s now back in the USA, and able to join the staff at ECRC beginning in July.
For the first time, our congregation now has a gifted, focused leader to shepherd our church simultaneously Up in worship, Out in service and evangelism, and In through discipleship and community. I’m hopeful that we’re about to experience a unique season of spiritual momentum and growth:
Powered by our connection to God
Pulled deeper into the life of Christ by community and spiritual friendship
Purposeful as we reach out to the wider community
It’s taken almost eight years to gently steer our staff structure and ministries into fully inhabiting our Up, In, and Out vision of the spiritual life. We should not be under the illusion that we have “arrived,” however. Rather, we are about to make a new beginning, empowered by the generous giving of our congregation through the Hearts Ablaze campaign. It’s so gratifying to be able to reallocate a significant portion of our tithes and offerings toward ministry and to open this new door into a more spiritually fruitful future.
Join me in thanking God for Jason Turner: the right person, at the right time, to help Elmhurst CRC take the next step in following Jesus
– Pastor Gregg