What a Picnic!
Hello Friends,
What a wonderful weekend! We celebrated our annual picnic and had a chance to meet Steve Sterner, Acting Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ. With Steve we talked about the future of the Church and our denomination and we were able to reflect a bit upon the life of our church. Then, at the picnic we experienced again the vitality and richness of our community. All of this has caused me to reflect deeply about our church and its place in the wider Santa Rosa community.
At the picnic this year we had a number of guests from our Santa Rosa Junior College Neighborhood. Some of our guests participate regularly in our Wednesday evening meditation program, while the majority were stopping by for the first time. There were skateboarders and musicians, some were intrigued by our Tent of Hope while others just stopped by because they heard the commotion. Children came to bounce in the Jump House and to get their face painted. Many came to dance and hear Adwoa, Sena and their friends play the drums. It was a marvel for me to be at the picnic. It was simply beautiful -- all the people in out parking lot. Our Samoan brothers and sisters provided a wonderful barbeque. Someone made some beans that were unbelievable. So my reflections:
The picnic reflected well the church that we are. By this I mean that we enjoy one another, that we are open to other, strangers and friends, and that we seek to be good neighbors to the folks around us. When I look at the inclusive community that is our congregation, I give thanks to God that we are so blessed.
The picnic showed us the church we are becoming. As we amplify our strengths we become stronger and more mature in our christian walk. For me this means that the church we are becoming is even more inclusive and that we will welcome the changes that will come to s over the next years.
So, what are we becoming? You may remember the Hunchback of Notre Dame where the townspeople are chasing Quasimodo and he runs into the Notre Dame Cathedral. Entering the cathedral, he looks out to the crowd and cries out "Sanctuary, Sanctuary/" He is safe on the hallowed grounds of the cathedral. I see the church as a sanctuary -- people are safe under our care. As a sanctuary we may be church for some -- people will come and join our number. For others we may be a spiritual center -- a place where they can come to pray and meditate, study scripture, etc...all without joining the church. For still other folk we might become a community center, a place to meet friends, to have meetings. This is to say that we might not be church to everyone - but we can provide sanctuary for all who come our way. Let's look for ways to be a light to our neighbors, blessing to all we seek sanctuary in a busy, mixed up and anxious world.
Blessings,
David
What a wonderful weekend! We celebrated our annual picnic and had a chance to meet Steve Sterner, Acting Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ. With Steve we talked about the future of the Church and our denomination and we were able to reflect a bit upon the life of our church. Then, at the picnic we experienced again the vitality and richness of our community. All of this has caused me to reflect deeply about our church and its place in the wider Santa Rosa community.
At the picnic this year we had a number of guests from our Santa Rosa Junior College Neighborhood. Some of our guests participate regularly in our Wednesday evening meditation program, while the majority were stopping by for the first time. There were skateboarders and musicians, some were intrigued by our Tent of Hope while others just stopped by because they heard the commotion. Children came to bounce in the Jump House and to get their face painted. Many came to dance and hear Adwoa, Sena and their friends play the drums. It was a marvel for me to be at the picnic. It was simply beautiful -- all the people in out parking lot. Our Samoan brothers and sisters provided a wonderful barbeque. Someone made some beans that were unbelievable. So my reflections:
The picnic reflected well the church that we are. By this I mean that we enjoy one another, that we are open to other, strangers and friends, and that we seek to be good neighbors to the folks around us. When I look at the inclusive community that is our congregation, I give thanks to God that we are so blessed.
The picnic showed us the church we are becoming. As we amplify our strengths we become stronger and more mature in our christian walk. For me this means that the church we are becoming is even more inclusive and that we will welcome the changes that will come to s over the next years.
So, what are we becoming? You may remember the Hunchback of Notre Dame where the townspeople are chasing Quasimodo and he runs into the Notre Dame Cathedral. Entering the cathedral, he looks out to the crowd and cries out "Sanctuary, Sanctuary/" He is safe on the hallowed grounds of the cathedral. I see the church as a sanctuary -- people are safe under our care. As a sanctuary we may be church for some -- people will come and join our number. For others we may be a spiritual center -- a place where they can come to pray and meditate, study scripture, etc...all without joining the church. For still other folk we might become a community center, a place to meet friends, to have meetings. This is to say that we might not be church to everyone - but we can provide sanctuary for all who come our way. Let's look for ways to be a light to our neighbors, blessing to all we seek sanctuary in a busy, mixed up and anxious world.
Blessings,
David
posted by FirstUCCSR at Monday, October 06, 2008
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