Looking back with gratitude… Looking forward with anticipation

Peace and Grace in the New Year,

As we enter 2012 I wanted to take a moment and savor the view back into 2011 and venture a look into what might be in store for Parkrose UMC in the new year. There is much to be thankful for, and much to look forward to.

I have had some great spiritual coaches and mentors. That’s the way I see my ministry, as coach/mentor. Over the last couple of years we have been using the focal points of Intentional Faith Development and Addressing Poverty to talk about what’s most important in our calling to ministry. It also has helped define my coaching/mentoring focus. One of the most difficult gigs I have had in my 20 years as pastor, is in the area of Intentional Faith Development.

Intentional Faith Development is about the path of spiritual growth. Richard Rohr, in his book Falling Upward calls it the “further journey.” It is the journey that opens the soul to, and creates in the process, the realm that Jesus called the kingdom of God. Seems pretty straight-forward to me. God seems to always have lessons for me to learn, new ways for me to be and do, and there are always new horizons to be explored. I’m not sure why it has been such a difficult concept to grasp. Could be my inability to articulate the image or could be that good church people easily find a safe, comfortable “parking place” on the pathway of faith. Probably some of both, I imagine. But in any case, in 2011 we had a breakthrough.

Looking back with gratitude:

Intentional Faith Development. I think we finally found a way to imagine Rohr’s “further journey” that makes some sense. We came up with a simple model that seeks to describe three distinct experience areas along the spiritual pathway. It affirms that we are all along the path and at each stage God’s grace is nudging us forward. How do we engage people just beginning the journey and needing a place of safety to seek answers to difficult life questions? How do we walk with folks who are beginning to grow in faith through bible study, prayer groups, and community ministries? How do we assist sojourners to find the giftedness that God has given each of us, and begin to take some risks to put those gifts to use in God’s service? I am deeply grateful for the patience shown me in these years that allowed our team of leaders to conjure up this model. Thank You! Living into this model in its fullness will be a challenge in 2012.

… And just about the time I get discouraged, ready to give up… I am awe-struck by our folks who truly care for others enough to risk relationships with the most vulnerable…

Addressing Poverty Ministries. I have talked long and often about our Addressing Poverty Ministries. Monthly Community Dinner and our Neighborhood Food Pantry, are two newcomers in 2011. Growing in numbers. Deepening in relationships. Knowing names and sharing life stories. I am deeply grateful. Also for the  four small groups, Chancel Choir, Monday a.m Bible Study, Wednesday Craft Group, and WINGS (Women In God’s Service) who sponsored families (recently off the streets and into housing) with a little Christmas compassion. Thank You!

Worship: In January 2011, we re-inserted into our Sunday worship experience, an unscripted, open-mic time for worshipers to offer words of witness in response to the invitation, “How have you experienced the power and presence of God recently?” Into this mixture of great music and message comes this often passionate, surprisingly open/honest, witness to how hard life is sometimes but how good God is always. It is my humble opinion that this meaningful addition to our worship reflects two emerging qualities: 1) a deepening sense of trust within our gatherings, and, 2) collective and individual growth in the “further journey”. Thank You!

Looking forward with anticipation:

Addressing Poverty Ministries:  There are significant questions that linger in the air of our poverty ministries. How can we move deeper in relationship with participant in our community ministries? How might we  address the causes of poverty as well as their symptoms?  How does healing the trauma of poverty play into wholeness and well-being? How might we practice this healing art that is part of our heritage?

Ministries with Children and Families: Our ministry with children is strong and healthy. Our children are growing up and we need to be responsive to their changing needs. Nursery kids are approaching 3 yrs. 3^rd graders moving up. How might we bring young families together to explore journey of faith options for themselves and their children? Seems like time to get a leadership team together to ponder the opportunities!

Financial Sustainability: We are a generous congregation with a strong showing in our budget campaign last fall. More households are giving.  New members are pitching in. I am convinced that our financial strength is a directly related to the relevancy and meaningfulness of our ministry. It is a credit to the faithfulness of our people. Thank You!

Our facilities at PUMC were constructed for a congregation of several hundred, we are a congregation of about a third of that. So our facilities have been successfully turned into a mission center for several small Christian fellowships in addition to us. We continue to give thanks for our ministry partners, Vida Abudante Hispanic Church and Oromo Church Seventh Day. For the last couple of years we were joined by our sibling Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (PCUCC).  This mission center approach for the past couple of years has been a luxury. We have sailed along without much concern about how to finance our ministry.

However, our friends at PCUCC, will be leaving us sometime this spring or summer. They are in discernment with the Eastminster Presbyterian Church about joining forces. Their stop with us has been part of their journey toward the future. This loss will reduce our income some $22,000 annually. We have a team of leaders meeting over the next couple months to explore options. We ask for your prayers.

In the beginning, the first words of God were to call forth light out of the “soup of nothingness, bottom emptiness, and inky blackness.”(Genesis 1 The Message) Very impressive. That’s the way God has always worked.  Much later, Jesus wondered why his disciples were worried about what was to come.  Every time I start to worry or wonder, I get a reminder that Jesus didn’t call us to be successful… just faithful. 2012 will present some significant challenges, no doubt, but it’s going to be a great year.

Shalom to all in the new year –

Bill