Does Your Super Bowl Super-cede Your Super Sunday?

We seem to have come into a tradition at St. Andrew that Super Bowl Sunday has also become the Sunday of our Annual Meeting. Between by-law requirements for the date and the time needed between council meetings and financial reports, it just seems to fall together that way.
You might think that we would have trouble meeting our quorum to conduct business and vote on the budget and new council members, but thankfully that has not been the case.  We seem to have fun together even when it's business.  Our council leadership has committed, over the past many years, to concluding this meeting by 3:00 pm with the promise that everyone will have plenty of time to get to their Super Bowl parties. (Thankfully the Super Bowl doesn’t start until about 6:30 pm or things might be different.)

I think it speaks to the level of love and commitment of our membership that so many people are willing to stay for lunch after worship and then engage in this important annual business meeting. We love our church, we respect our leadership, and we care about the ministry we are called to do.

Even in the face of economic uncertainties and financial stresses, it was clear from our meeting yesterday that this body of Christ understands the difficulties of being in leadership right now. We understand how hard it is to make all those numbers come together for a reasonable spending plan for the upcoming year. We understand that things happened which created havoc with our previous budget and we appreciate the hard work that went into keeping the ship afloat.

It doesn't matter that the Super Bowl is a few hours away, we understand that this "business" is an important aspect of how we do our ministry here.  A few hours dedicated to God to prepare the game plan for the next year at St. Andrew trumps watching the pre-GAME hype for a football game.

Thank you God, for all the faithful stewards you have given to the ministry of your church here in Parsippany, St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

Remember who you are: We are a blessed community of faith called by God to be Christ to our community, here in Morris County NJ.

Remember what you have been given: God has gifted St. Andrew with smart and caring people who lead us with hearts for ministry, talent for leadership, and the skills of administration.

Go and do what matters: St. Andrew understands our calling to be salt for the earth and a light for all people to learn the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Does your church have trouble getting people to attend its annual meeting? To serve on Council? Or in leadership positions? How do you address these issues?