Pastor Laura, Pastor Kuda, and I recently took part in an event for some of the leading congregations in our conference. During that time we spoke about life before, during, and after Covid and all the challenges that we have come through the last few years. It was great to be with colleagues and friends that have faced some of the challenges we have faced, dreamed some of the dreams we dreamt; and some of the things we haven’t faced.
During the time together, there were two phrases I heard repeated over and over again: first, “we don’t have it figured out yet” and second, “I’m excited about the future.” For me, that tension of unknowing and yet being fully convinced of God’s care in the present and future is precisely the place we find ourselves. There is so much about the future that we don’t know; so much about the way God is leading us as a congregation that seems unclear; AND we know that God is the one who needs to lead us into the future.
One of the presenters spoke of three attitudes toward our ministry together:
• Re-engineering
• Re-vival
• Re-missioning
Each of them has a place in our dreams for the future.
Re-engineering speaks to the way we take the things that we “have always done” and adapting them to the current reality. I think about shifting our children, youth, and family ministry to a shared ministry with Jarvis Memorial. We have always done children and youth ministry, and we are continuing. Now, we are doing it a bit differently.
Re-vival speaks to seeing what God might be doing in our midst and chasing after that movement of God. I think about the concerts that we have begun to offer in collaboration with ECU’s School of Music. It is bringing new energy into the life of our congregation in various ways.
Re-missioning speaks to hearing the need in our community and responding. I think of the ministry with International students, a group within our community in need of our support and attention. Each of the three is important and each takes us in new directions.
The other thing that I heard in this time was that it takes time. I can’t say that was a message I totally wanted to hear. I wanted to hear, “Here are the three magic steps, add water, and you will enter paradise.” Discerning and listening for God takes time, and, as my mother often told me growing up, patience is not my greatest virtue. The emerging reality for us as a congregation is emerging. That means that it is coming as well as that it isn’t fully grown.
This remains an exciting time to be St. James United Methodist Church in all that means for us. We haven’t figured everything out yet, and still there is a lot to celebrate. I am sure Pastor Laura and Pastor Kuda will be bringing new energy and new excitement back, as will I, from this time away. We are thankful that you believe in us enough to give us this time and to allow us to grow as leaders. There is so much that God is doing in our congregation, in our conference, and in our denomination.
Pastor Tom