Minister's
Message
Our Past Together
My past at First Church is pretty short as I write this: just four
months. In February, I’ll talk to you about some ideas for our future. But I want to begin 2018 by reviewing what already exists: our brief past together.
Small Group Gatherings
By now, I feel like I know many of you. But I’m still trying
to build relationships with those of you I haven’t yet come to know.
Some of you were kind enough to host small gatherings at your homes for us to gather and share personal stories and dreams for First Church. One of the questions I often asked at these gatherings was, “What tradition do you want to make sure I know and do not ‘mess’ with?” I also asked, “What do you still love about it here?” We've been building present relationships — and trying to make sure we bring the best of the past with us.
I hope we will continue to have these small group meetings: teas, coffees, dinners, brunches, etc. They can be as simple as coffee shared in the Buxton Room, or as involved as a sit-down dinner at your home. The experience of being together and sharing is what matters to me. Email me to either host or join a small group gathering!
Worship
Working with and through teams is my favorite leadership style. I am always enlivened by the process of sitting with people dreaming, sparking ideas, and caring about worship planning. I always feel like we are wiser when we are together than any of us can be alone.
We have formed a worship team and begun the kind of advanced planning that makes worship both well-thought-out and cooperative. Our worship team planning sessions are such fun! We laugh, share ideas, imagine together and listen for the voice of the Spirit as part of planning our services. The team is made up of differently skilled folks; by working together we can build something greater than what any one of us could manage.
During worship, we’ve encouraged deacons to pray at the communion table and to voice the question we ask the congregation during baptisms. Having deacons share this leadership with the clergy helps support our belief in the “priesthood of all believers.”
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