Greetings. As you can see I am posting for two days. Like you, this daily thing can be tough to keep up with but I want to say that the comments both on the blog and in person regarding the readings have been immensely thoughtful. I believe these conversations will really lead us into a clearer sense of our vision for today and for the days ahead.
Upon reading these two reflections I am thinking about how we both reach out to groups outside our self and how we nurture the groups we have. For families with young children we provide childcare in the service, for the growing number of teens in our congregation we began a Youth program that has already blossomed and they have invited others in, we welcome outside groups like the veterans for the annual 4 chaplains Sunday, among other things. The question remains are their others we could be reaching out to? Is there more we could be doing to make the folks we have more comfortable? What have we each been doing to help this process?
I look forward to your ideas and leadership as we take this to our teams and to the congregation!!! Thank you for you willingness to be on this journey.
I love you all,
Rev. Patty
Space...is at times a limiting factor. We can develop more programs and grow our membership, but at some point the reality is we need a place to gather. Gwen and her group are in the sanctuary this AM, which means the choir is not. To hold a meeting before church, is to "compete" with Sunday School and choir. I think a long term vision is to consider how to finish the basement in a cost effective manner. We don't want to take on a large amount of debt, but just think of the benefits! I know this is an idea that has come up before. I know we haven't yet settled on the solution. I also feel we will find the resources to do it if...it is a shared vision. This is not to suggest I think it is our next or highest priority, but a topic we may want to visit at some point as it is integral to the concept of hospitality and growth. For now I think we are doing a good job using the beautiful space we have. Since 2004, we have seen much love and care and renewal put into the physical space that we know as our church home. The Capital Campaign was a big, and successful undertaking. So as I write I feel like I've just gone in a circle, but that is what reflection is all about sometimes. We need to keep taking care of what we have, and think about expansion when God guides us that the timing is right.
ReplyDeleteI've just been catching up on the readings and the posts, and feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. This book seems to open up some really sensitive places, a lot of food for thought and discussion. Some rambling thoughts...I have always wished we had more space to enhance all the good works we do and dream of doing, especially Sunday school rooms, and a comfortable meeting room. I'm impressed with all the improvements that have been made since we joined. With our continued growth in welcoming people and increasing our membership, it is my hope that we can soon begin a campaign to transform the basement space. We do exceptionally well with what we have, roast beef dinners come to mind - I am always amazed at how we fit so many people in and how the servers do their jobs so well. I think advertising is a very important part of growing our church, and Ellen has been doing a super job with that. Could we have more children involved with the greeting, to help make new children feel more welcome? I may have mentioned before an idea for a fund raiser - a progressive dinner - this keeps coming up in my mind because my parents did this quite a few times when I was a young child, and they had so much fun with it. I'd like to explore this idea - it presents an opportunity for people to get to know one another on a more personal level by going in small groups to people's homes for different dinner courses, and then ending up at the church hall for dessert. I think it might be a good time to do this, while we're enjoying our "growth spurt."
ReplyDeleteTo wrap up our week of readings on hospitality....the question was what behaviors could we practice that would shape the culture of the congregation toward a "hospitality that exceeds expectations?" My answer is simple....think about our covenant...acceptance, respect, and love. If we all embody those behaviors in every interaction - within and outside the doors of NCC, it is one step towards radiacal hospitality!
ReplyDeleteSomething as simple as a greeter who goes to the curb to help someone in from the snow, or to protect someone w/the offering of an umbrella? Doesnt' seem like much but could have a big impact on someone who is having an issue getting to us.
ReplyDeleteAlso, on an even more simple vein.....what is that saying about a smile being worth more than gold? If - once we walk through the doors of NCC or into the sanctuary - we could truly put aside all other influences, put a smile on our faces and "truly be present" to experience the moment, to notice the person in the congregation who needs an extra touch or hug, the new person who is sitting alone,etc....that would be a great place for me to start my own radical hospitality.
Many of the congregational churches I've attended always "passed the peace" - but in this day/age of H1N1 it may not be the best way to "reach out" to those in the pews in front/beside you.
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