I am sitting at a picnic table built by our Youth Group (great job “Yuts”) and I am actually pondering. It’s a partly sunny day. A fall breeze rustles the changing leaves on our many trees. What a soothing sound… a settling sound…a cleansing sound. Rays of sunlight flicker across my paper as the pen glides along the paper and thoughts spill out of its point.
Last month I wrote, “Welcome to the final Fall Season of the Transition” and proceeded to write about what still needed to be done. Today, I seem to be in a reflective mood…reflecting on where we have been and what we have done.
Since July of last year we have worked through some difficult times. Sunday morning schedule is one of the most difficult issues a church can deal with. While the process was rough at times, we were able to find ways to talk with each other. It was important to be willing to stop, step back and re-examine our decisions. It was important to discover, through the World Café experience, new methods for talking with one another. And while the schedule is not quite right, there will be new Senior Minister leadership to help you refine your life together on Sunday mornings.
During the last fifteen months we have affirmed the strengths and ongoing successes of ACC’s ministry, and discovered new means, new methods and new ministries that have enhanced our faith community experience.
We have been able to affirm the strengths and gifts of our very capable staff. Our worship experiences continue to be spiritually fulfilling and inspirational. Our music ministry has been exemplary including the Madrigals and our Praise Band’s work with the Pension Fund and at General Assembly.
Our Standing Committees (formerly known as Departments) have been strengthened, committee job descriptions have been refined and new participant leaders have been recruited. New By-laws have been instituted and a Personnel Handbook is almost complete. More of our people are participating in the ministry of the church and others have been inspired to do God’s work beyond the church.
Mission and outreach continues to be a strength of this congregation as we seek to do our present ministries better and find new outreach ministry opportunities for members of the congregation.
Our website was temporarily improved and we are moving toward the launching of a new website. The Senior Minister Search Committee has been working very hard, meeting almost every week. Their tasks have been many, gathering information from the congregation, the writing of a profile, reading ministerial profiles, interviewing candidates and discerning who God is calling to Allisonville Christian Church.
Our life together has been good! There is still more to do to prepare for a new day.
Shalom,
Pastor Dennis