The Vision Thing

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (KJV)
Habakuk 2:2

A few election cycles back one of the candidates was criticized for lacking "that vision thing." The suggestion was that without vision, this particular candidate would be unable to lead the country in a meaningful and intelligent way. In the book of the prophet Habakkuk, God suggests that the prophet write of his vision on tablets in writing big enough so that someone running by could read it.

Vision is essential as the church moves forward into a new year. In this fast paced world, the church would do well take God’s advice to Habakkuk. Write it BIG so that people in a hurry can see it. Without a vision written large for all to see, we run the risk of perishing in what many have called a post-Christian world (a world where in our Bay Area only 15% of the people have any religious affiliation whatsoever). For anyone interested in our vision here at First Congregational UCC, take a look at our vision statement – this sets broad outlines concerning what we are all about. I thought that today I might share with you a vision for our “Church of the Corner” that I have been thinking about since the church picnic in October.

It is time to think of the church as serving not only its members and the people who worship here, but also members of our community Santa Rosa and the nearby towns, and even more particularly, the Santa Rosa Junior College Neighborhood. For this our vision needs to be broad and inclusive, inclusive even of those who might never think of joining a church. So, in broad strokes here is a vision of the church in a post-Christian environment.

1. We will be church for some people: There are people in our community who are interested in becoming a member of a church. For them, formal affiliation with a religious organization is something to be valued. They will contribute significantly to our church’s life and ministries. They will come here for both spiritual nurture and community. They will find in our community a connection to God and neighbor, their membership being for them a sign of this vital connection. Our members will count their church membership as essential to their lives.

2. For others, we will be a community center: As we open our building and program to the community, we find people coming to us who would never dream of “joining” a church. Yet, they are attracted to what we can offer the community, immediately as we are located in the Santa Rosa Junior College Neighborhood, and regionally as we offer some programs and opportunities that are unique to Sonoma County. Recent events that fall into this category are our community picnic and our evolving Nyame Tsease Drumming program (community attendance at our drumming concerts has averaged 75 people over two months). Also, AA; a group from men in recovery; and a stroke club meet in our building. We look to ways to be more open to our community.

3. For still others, we will be a spiritual center: an interesting thing has evolved on Wednesday evenings with our Meditation Group is that our neighbors have been dropping in. Many of these drop-ins would never come to a formal Christian worship service. However, on occasion, they stop by for meditation – a moment of quiet in their busy weeks. As a church, we might examine ways in which we can reach out to such people in a spiritually hungry world.

Before anything else, the church is about two things: spirituality and community. In fact, in our time, churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc… are the place to go for spiritual nurture and community. To our membership we offer both – in an unambiguous Christian environment. For our friends, we can share in community, the human connections that help define who we are and that add spice to life. And we can offer people a place to practice spiritual disciplines – strengthening their particular spiritual lives without enforcing belief or dogma.

As we approach the new year, we look to opportunities to share with our neighbors and friends the precious gifts that God has given us.

Blessings,
David

Will the Grinch Bail-Out Whoville?

Every Who Down in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot... 

But the Grinch,Who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT! 

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! 

Ok, so I'm thinking a lot about the Grinch these days. That's right, Dr. Seuss' hero/anti-hero who has such an antipathy for Christmas that he decides that by stealing the presents from right under the Who's noses, he can stop Christmas from coming.  He figures that without thier presents to make them happy, the Whos will be miserable -- so miserable, in fact, that the Whos would not make the most hated Grinch sound of all:  the Whos would be unable to sing.

So, the Grinch does it.  He steals all the presents, all the special foods, all the Christmas trees. The Whos houses are Christmas-bare.  He takes all the Christmas stuff to the top of Mt. Crumpit, ready to toss them over the cliff -- when he hears it -- the Whos are singing.  

the Grinch put his hand to his ear. 

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. 

It started in low. Then it started to grow. 

But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry! 

It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY! 

He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes! 

Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise! 

Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, 

Was singing! Without any presents at all! 

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! 

Somehow or other, it came just the same! 

Here we are in the midst of the worst recession since World War II.  It is beginning to look like all the wonderful things available to us may not be available to us afterall.  Perhaps some of us will have fewer presents under the tree.  Maybe all our stuff is on the downside of Mt. Crumpit and it looks like it might not come back.  Maybe....So what do we do?  Perhaps ask a question. Here's one -- perhaps we could ask, as did the Whos, "What's left?"

When everything falls away something remains.  The Whos found Joy.  Others find Love.  Still others Hope.  This coming Christmas is a time for each of us, and for all of us in community to discover what remains when everything falls away.  What we find is that which is eternal, and can't be taken away, no way, no how.  

"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!" 

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!" 

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. 

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! 

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store." 

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" 

And what happened then? Well...in Whoville they say, 

That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day! 

What remains is the open heart -- the limitless heart of God with us in love and compassion.  

Christmas is coming.  Blessings, David 

On Leaving it Right There

So, I found this poem and thought that I would share it with you.  It will be in the bulletin on Sunday, but I could not wait.  It speaks of the things we hold so tight as to blind ourselves to the finest in life. In the time of preparation, enjoy.  

He told me that once

He forgot himself & his

Heart opened up like a

Door with a loose latch

& everything fell out &

He tried for days to put

It all back in the proper

Order but finally he

Gave up & left it there

In a pile & loved

Everything equally.

Brian Andreas

 I wish you a season of "everything falling out" and pray that we might all have the wisdom to give up and leave whatever it is in a pile.    With love and blessings, David