Dear Friends,
How will you engage this year? As we are transitioning back to being in-person while maintaining virtual options, I have been thinking about shared ministry and how we will continue to care for each other in our multiplatform world. What I know is that we will do it. We figured out how to shift from being almost exclusively in-person to being almost exclusively virtual, and now we will figure out how to shift again to being partially in-person, partially online.
As I think about our shared ministry, I continually return to our shared mission of nurturing the human spirit for a world made whole.
How might you nurture your spirit this year?
You are invited to join one of the 6-month covenant groups that will start meeting in October.
You are invited to explore the many other small groups that provide deeper connection and support within our community. There is a list on the website or, if you are a member, you may look in REALM under Groups/Find Groups.
How might you nurture the spirit of others?
On Sunday, this may be volunteering for religious education and hospitality roles or attending the Faith Formation Hour. Other times, it may be joining in a Worship Playdate (the next one is October 16th) or singing in the choir (contact Music Director Vickie Hellyer). Sometimes, it will be attending your small group gathering and making time to listen to each other.
The Membership Engagement Task Force spent months during our interim ministry thinking about how we engage with each other. Now the Task Force is looking for volunteers to join one of their three working groups: Communication; Facilitating Engagement; and Leadership Development. The working groups will develop various ways to enhance how all of us find out information about the opportunities available within our large and active congregation; how we invite each other to participate; and how we encourage deeper learning and succession planning among leadership. I encourage you to reach out to me or Maggie Wilson and join in this exciting endeavor.
How might you engage with the world?
This week’s newsletter alone is full of ways to continue learning about reparations, trans and gender non-binary inclusion, and what it means to defund the police. The newsletter also regularly provides information about ways to get directly involved. This week there is information about participating in Bike the Ridge and donating to assist the Syrian refugee family our congregation is supporting.
You are invited to explore the other teams who work to live our values out in the world. There is a list on the website or, if you are a member, you may look in REALM under Groups/Find Groups.
You are invited to attend the Membership Engagement Program Fair after the worship service on Sunday, September 26th. It will be on the south lawn or in the sanctuary if the weather is inclement. This program fair will focus on ways to nurture the human spirit. We will be hosting a Social Justice Program Fair that focuses on ways to make the world more whole later this year. Come get connected (or reconnected)!!!
As we live into the wishes sent out for our congregation at our building and grounds blessing last Sunday, I invite you to reach out to each other knowing that it is through our relationships that we will make those wishes come true.
In faith,
Rev. Susan
