Father Paul's Ponderings

            A long time ago an entertainer by the name of Perry Como would introduce the solo part of  his 
TV show by singing “Dream along with me, I’m on the way to the stars…” Well, I want to thank everyone
who participated in the first steps in developing our Vision Statement and Mission Statement over
the last month. We all gave ourselves permission to dream a little about how our congregation might look
in ten years. I asked the questions: What do we want to be involved in? What would be a great new
direction? Notice I didn’t spend any time in our groups talking about how we were going to get there.
It was about giving yourself permission to imagine that absolutely most exciting, most life changing,
most spiritual hope or dream you can have.

             The first step was remembering what brought you to the Church in the first place and then what
kept you there? The second step was detailing what you liked about our congregation now. With those
two discussions completed and your minds were ready to soar a little (and no psychedelic substances were
used) we began to dream together.

             I’m working on extracting key words and phrases for use by a committee charged with
developing a Vision statement. We’ll share that and offer it for discussion and improvement in a month or
so. If you would like to serve on that committee, let me know.

             For now, I’d like to share in paraphrase form, some of the really interesting comments. This
is some of what was said: we like being Episcopalians, we like the ritual, the flowers, music and colors
of the seasons. We like the social connections. We like our neighbors next door and we don’t want to lose
touch with them. We’re committed to outreach to the community. We take our role as care givers and
supporters of one another seriously. We like good preaching. Most of all, it’s about the welcome and the
feeling of belonging and safety that’s most important.

             I could go on, but that’s the direction we’re wanting to head-not to lose any of the foregoing.
Of course, we don’t have to give any of that up, it’s part of our DNA as a worship community. It will
take more work to expand our membership in order to support our ambitions, but that’s possible too.
What it will take for sure it the work of everyone. As we have discovered, no one is expendable, no one
can be ignored, no one can be left out when you have the greatest gift of all, the love of Christ in your hearts.
 
Fr. Paul