Hello Church!
Happy Fall. As I have listened and watched and been a pastoral observer over the last years (in the midst of a head injury, all I could do was observe), I’ve noticed, and the leadership has confirmed, a real desire/need to focus on our relationships, our fellowship, our own sinew of connectivity, the fabric of being church together. When I came to SecondFirst six years ago, you all had spent two years focusing on yourselves as you federated and you were yearning to get out into the community to continue to serve. We did that, and will continue to do that. But any good church balances caring for their own with outward mission, so this academic year your leadership is focusing on belonging. What does it mean to belong to this church? To one another? And to God? The paradox is many people report a sense of belonging to a church as a coming together to do outward mission, so we will not forsake one for the other.
There are so many ways people sense they belong to one another and to God through SecondFirst Church. For decades, our church(es) has fostered strong caring relationships through shared purpose, mission and ministry. Covid has changed everything though, so this Fall we are embarking on two new efforts that you will read about here in this newsletter. First, your Discernment and Vision Team (DVT) will be interviewing members to ask about when you felt most connected to the church, and to one another, so that we might lead our church to further that sense of belonging. Second, the Deacons will be offering Gatherings for 9, a way to be in community with your SecondFirst friends and fellow pew-sitters (and stream watchers.)
Covid threatens to separate us from every aspect of community, including church. I double dog dare you to bring your whole self here (in person or virtually). As community building expert Peter Block quote says, what you put in is what you will get out. If you dare vulnerability (and I’m not asking for bare-your-soul unbounded and inappropriately sharing to people you barely know – that’s dangerous and yucky), but if you are vulnerable and open to new relationship and possibility, those around you will be as well. Then you will quickly find that you belong to one another. Church is risky, daring and scary. You, SecondFirst, are doing a great job.
Peace,
Rev. Rebecca