The Channing Connection:
Ministerial Musings - The Rev. Susan LaMar
April 2008
So
I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the
wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in
his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it
as seemed best to him.—Jeremiah 18: 3-4
This church has done an enormous amount of work over the past two years, “wedging your clay,” preparing to form the church into something new as we go forward. You should be extremely proud of yourselves . . . I am certainly proud of you! The wedged clay is about to be thrown onto the potter’s wheel.
But those words – “something new” – can raise feelings of anticipation and excitement, as when shopping for new clothes, or a new car, or building a new house. Or they can also raise very different feelings – perhaps some apprehension, maybe even a little fear. “What will change mean for me?” we might think. “I like things just the way they are. Why do we have to change?”
Well, it is not a matter of “have to,” really. It is, though, a matter of want to – most of you have expressed a desire to grow – but what does that mean? Do we want to grow in numbers – in worship? in religious education – both for children and adults? Do we want to grow in service to the community – here in Howard Country and in the world? Do we want to grow spiritually – and what would that mean? And if any of those things happen, how will it affect the “feel” of the church? Will it feel different on Sunday morning – more people, of differing ages, temperaments, backgrounds, religious orientations, races, ethnicities? How will we respond to such changes: with welcoming arms or with unease and fretfulness? If we want to be welcoming, how will we learn – really learn – to do so?
Going the next steps, figuring out together exactly how to shape Channing Memorial Church into something that seems best to us, is the next stage of our work together. We will take all the information and data, opinions and feelings that were contributed and gathered in all our meetings together and begin to shape a specific vision for the future.
The first step will be to form a Steering Committee composed of three board members, the present Long Range Planning Committee, and three or four other church members. There is more information on this committee elsewhere in this newsletter. Critical to this process will be the participation of people who are able to step back and consider the church as a whole. Can you listen with an open heart and mind? Can you speak your opinions and feelings with compassion and kindness? Can you perceive the work of the spirit in a group of like-minded but differently opinioned folks? Can you join your hands to begin to shape the community?
Of course, the whole congregation will be invited to help with the ultimate decision-making about a shape and a direction, but this Steering Committee will dig in for a short time to develop a few realistic scenarios for the congregation to discuss. Please think carefully about participating. Do not hesitate to give me a call if you have questions or would like help with your thinking. The wheel is beginning to spin!
Love, peace, and grace,
Susan