I'm a bit pressed for preaching time tomorrow because we will be introducing 15 of our 18 new members at Seneca Presbyterian. What a delightful problem to have! I've chosen to focus on the spiritual and theological aspects of our challenge to become a multi-generational congregation again, and not necessarily strategies to achieve the dream. I think that's the best place for me to begin.
So many of you have offered your thoughts, concerns, and dreams. You've spoken of past attempts that did not hold the "magic bullet" and bring in "mass quantities" of children and youth. You've been honest with me about what you think our future prospects are. And all of you who shared have endorsed the dream to welcome children and youth again - someday, somehow.
As our Session, committees, and leaders work toward planning our future - trusting the guidance of the Spirit - we will always keep a watchful eye on this concern, challenge, and dream. I hope we will undertake an intentional study of our community - its needs for services of compassion and care as well as its needs for spiritual care. Perhaps instead of focusing on what will bring us children, our focus should be on what will touch the lives of the unchurched and how our unique gifts and unique witness can minister to and welcome them.
If you want to understand the challenge more completely, I highly recommend a book that was published just this week. It is Christianity after Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening by Diana Butler Bass. I hope we can find a way to study it together, mining its resources and letting it be a springboard for us as we seek to be faithful to our calling, our gifts, and our God.
Thank you - saints of SPC!
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