TOP REMINDER EXPRESSIONS_IN_GLASS MISSION_CHALLENGE GREETERS_
CREATING THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE
(Nancy Kahaian)
Almost 100 people gathered for the “Creating the Church of the Future” August event at Geneva Center hosted by our Presbytery. Mr. Durall, the presenter, began with a simple exercise of asking participants to describe their church in a metaphor. A few examples he offered included:
Our church is a slot machine where people put a quarter in
and expect to get a dollar out.
My church is an old shoe where we all just enjoy being comfortable.
Our congregation is a treadmill requiring a lot of work.
The metaphors offered by Wabash Valley presbyters in August included the following:
My church is a costume party,
where we’re unsure of who people really are underneath their appearance.
My church is that little stuffed teddy bear on your bed,
who is always there when you need a dose of love after living your crazy life.
My church is a beautiful sailboat, in perfect wind, on a beautiful day,
with the sails down and the anchor firmly set.
My church is a Model A, trying to be a sports car.
My church is like a softball team, where many would rather sit on the bench,
rather than get in the game.
My church is like a box that is firmly taped shut.
My church is like a beautiful quilt
because we know it takes many colors and pieces to make it whole.
My church is like a gerbil running on a wheel.
My church is a gracious lady who is experimenting with Victoria’s Secret,
and feeling a bit uncomfortable about it.
Creative bunch, aren’t we? Beyond the vivid imagery that each metaphor evokes, there was a shared sense of being a church that wants to be faithful, desires to show love for God, and earnestly wishing to grow in numbers and spirit.
It is the sincere hope of the leadership of Wabash Valley Presbytery that congregational life and mission happen in such a way that folks experience grace coming to fulfillment and that people grow in acknowledging Christ present in their very midst. Would it be wonderful if every WVP congregation could see its members transformed in hope, in joy, in self-forgetful love, in peace, in patience, and in all other Christlikeness?
I would encourage the members of WVP congregations to continue to participate in educational events and “nuts and bolts presentations” that enable churches to learn from others, try new ideas, consider a different perspective - - so that we can all become more of what God intends for us to be as the church: a sign of Christ in the world.
Thank you to every participant. If you have not yet received your books (and you should have by now) please contact Gladys Sargent in the Presbytery office.
Nancy Kahaian
Vice Moderator and Coordinator of August event
ATTENTION COMMISSIONERS: The September 22 Presbytery Assembly packet is on the web site for your convenience to print documents as needed. Please Click HERE.
Please be sure to call 574-223-5678 or e-mail shelly@ourpresbytery.org before the end of today if you have not made your lunch reservation.
Please join us at Geneva Center on October 8-11, 2007 for this all inclusive event. Explore the nearly lost art of stained glass making with your instructor Braxton Eikenberry. Braxton is a local artist making his living producing various kinds of stained glass items. For more information please contact Shelly Ewing at 574-223-6915 or shelly@genevacenter.org. We look forward to seeing you!!
PLEASE MAKE NOTE
The Presbytery of Wabash Valley will host missionary Bill Yoder October 6-11, 2007. Time with our missionary will be very informative and blessed. Several churches have made arrangements for him to speak to their congregations. There are still open dates and times. For information on these and what a visit by Bill will entail, please contact Patsy McCammack at flowerofpaxton@hotmail.com or phone 765-564-6166 or 765-430-8612.
Available days are Tuesday the 9th and Thursday the 11th. Please consider the opportunity to schedule a time with our missionary to bless your congregation. .
Greeters, go to this website, http://growingchurchnet.com/Greeter.html and get an informational packet that will be very useful for first impressions. This is a fabulous greeters packet that every church should have.