Here we are again in September, excited for the new year of Sunday School and the teaching of our children. And, here we are again thinking about how we can best protect and provide for the children, families, and community. In thinking about where we are as a church and society with so many challenges — pandemic, racism, political vitriol, natural disasters, world wide unrest — I am reminded of an exercise I participated in with the Minnesota Annual Conference back in June. We met for an in-person day and looked at a Journey Toward Vitality map that you can see here. As you can see, this map isn’t of any particular place, but rather all places. It acknowledges that there are ups and downs of our journey together as a congregation and community. Sometimes we are in the “Swamp of Trauma” or perhaps we are walking through the “Woods of New Normal.” Some of the places are fun and wonderful, but other places acknowledge the reality of pain and grief in our lives. In all these places, the constant is the river of “Abundant Life in Christ” where we “Grow in Love of God and neighbor, reach new people, and heal a broken world.”
I encourage you to take a moment to look at the map. Where are you now, and where do you want to be? How can we build our connections to support and love one another as we take this journey together? As part of my Nonprofit Leadership Class (see my August article for more information) I, with leaders from the congregation, are developing a project to help us reconnect with one another in these challenging times. I look forward to talking with you more about the project in the coming months. For now, as we lean into this new season, may we find strength in one another and joy in being connected to the source of all of our lives.
Blessings and Peace,
Katherine