Reflection on our time together
As
was mentioned earlier today, in a less than 2 weeks, I will be part of a
conversation with a group of people from this Parish, along with 3 people from
Presbytery. This conversation is called Vital Ministry.
It
is also just over 2 years since I began in ministry with this Parish;
so,
it has been a time for me to reflect on what has happened, or not happened.
For
me, this placement was unsettled from the beginning:
Not
long after I announced I was leaving my previous church, a child from that
place died, a child I knew and cherished. Leaving 2 months after the funeral
left like I was abandoning the family.
The
week of the Induction in mid-September, I was ill and there were some concerns expressed
about aspects of worship.
In
November, Ian’s dad turned ninety, and died all within a few weeks.
Then
Christmas, a trip overseas, and six months in, I was still trying to find my
place, in what is a complex and busy Parish.
With
all my experience in churches, as part of congregations as we moved around, and
part of presbytery and Synod committees, there are some aspects of church life
here that I have not come across before. Some of that is good, some I have concerns
about.
In
my reflecting, I looked again at the profile you prepared before I arrived.
The
profile told me that your experience with Ministers has not always been
positive.
It
also noted how a dedicated group of people, most who are part of this parish, maintained
the life of this church, its life and ministry and mission. Not all parishes
are able to do that, not all parishes have people with the gifts and graces to
be able to continue the work of Christ in the community without a Minister,
especially for the length of time you did.
here
are a few sentences from the profile, of what you were hoping and praying for:
The parish
needs the continuity of a long-term placement of an experienced minister to
enable it to grow, to support the leadership, and to foster the growth of new
leadership in the development of new programs and in outreach to the community.
The parish needs a minister to lead evangelistic programs and add new members.
That
was a good reminder to me of one of the reasons I was keen to talk with the
Nominating Committee. You were not wanting a minister to maintain what was, but
to work with you for what might be.
I
think this Parish has great potential, Friday evening worship is flourishing, with
many new families involved. Though we do need something else for the young
people once they get to about 9 or 10 years of age. A youth worker is one of the Parish goals, that
requires a substantial increase in our budget. I hope we find a way to raise the
extra $35, 000 each year, because some of the families from FFFN are starting
to attend less, as their children get older.
In
June we will be trialling some Saturday evening worship services; and combined
services each Sunday morning for the month with guest preachers. The Moderator
has already agreed to preach on Sunday 24th June.
You
were looking for Minister to foster new leaders and develop new programs. Often
new programs mean letting go of something else. Fostering new leaders means
that some people will need to hand over responsibilities to newly appointed
people.
I
hope this next year is a time for consolidating the mission teams, recognising
the opportunities for welcoming people in ways that allows them to hear the
grace and love of God through Jesus.
That
is possible, but only if we trust God, and each other.
