Musings Along Lifes Way
Our Church's Vision and Mission
Warm and welcoming,dynamic and diverse,we come together with open arms to renew our spirits, challenge our minds, and celebrate Christ in our midst. Excited and enlivened by the Holy Spirit we are transformed. Reaching out, we become what our hearts can see.
Our Mission Statement, volume 3
Warm and welcoming, dynamic and diverse, we come together with Open arms
to renew our spirits,
challenge our minds,
In his letter to the Romans Paul writes, that the church is to help people to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God." (Romans 12:2) Transformation lies at the center of our church's Mission Statement. What is it to be transformed? How will we know when we are renewed?
"to renew our spirits": Spiritual renewal is ongoing. We can never say that we have finally arrived at a complete understanding of our faith, that our spirits have been renewed and we are done with our spiritual growth. Spiritual growth and renewal is not something we can check off our list as in, "Yep, I've done that now I need to buy some groceries." I find that I am constantly challenged by life. New situations arise that need new responses and as I pray through these challenges somehow (and it does seem miraculous at times) I find the resources I need to meet the challenges that I face. It seems that Spirit is constantly renewing my spirit as I move through life. I wonder how it is for you?
"challenge our minds": The usual understanding is that doubt is the opposite of faith, that we want more faith and less doubt. However, I wonder if we might look at doubt as a friend to faith. I know that over my life I have believed many things. I also know that as I have grown and used my mind to question those beliefs, I have watched my faith grow. It is as if my beliefs are containers for faith. As doubt works with faith and as my mind is challenged the old containers are simply outgrown and discarded. It is like a hermit crab with her shell. The old is discarded and the new taken up. The challenged mind is a renewed mind, more responsive to life as it comes to us, not hard nosed but supple and aware of Spirit's movement as we meet life.
Part of the mission of First Congregational UCC, Santa Rosa, is to attend to the transformation of our members and friends. In Christ's light we find our spirits renewed, our minds challenged.
Blessings,
David
Warm and welcoming,dynamic and diverse,we come together with open arms to renew our spirits, challenge our minds, and celebrate Christ in our midst. Excited and enlivened by the Holy Spirit we are transformed. Reaching out, we become what our hearts can see.
Our Mission Statement, volume 3
Warm and welcoming, dynamic and diverse, we come together with Open arms
to renew our spirits,
challenge our minds,
In his letter to the Romans Paul writes, that the church is to help people to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God." (Romans 12:2) Transformation lies at the center of our church's Mission Statement. What is it to be transformed? How will we know when we are renewed?
"to renew our spirits": Spiritual renewal is ongoing. We can never say that we have finally arrived at a complete understanding of our faith, that our spirits have been renewed and we are done with our spiritual growth. Spiritual growth and renewal is not something we can check off our list as in, "Yep, I've done that now I need to buy some groceries." I find that I am constantly challenged by life. New situations arise that need new responses and as I pray through these challenges somehow (and it does seem miraculous at times) I find the resources I need to meet the challenges that I face. It seems that Spirit is constantly renewing my spirit as I move through life. I wonder how it is for you?
"challenge our minds": The usual understanding is that doubt is the opposite of faith, that we want more faith and less doubt. However, I wonder if we might look at doubt as a friend to faith. I know that over my life I have believed many things. I also know that as I have grown and used my mind to question those beliefs, I have watched my faith grow. It is as if my beliefs are containers for faith. As doubt works with faith and as my mind is challenged the old containers are simply outgrown and discarded. It is like a hermit crab with her shell. The old is discarded and the new taken up. The challenged mind is a renewed mind, more responsive to life as it comes to us, not hard nosed but supple and aware of Spirit's movement as we meet life.
Part of the mission of First Congregational UCC, Santa Rosa, is to attend to the transformation of our members and friends. In Christ's light we find our spirits renewed, our minds challenged.
Blessings,
David
posted by Online Coordinator at Wednesday, October 24, 2007
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