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Minister’s Musings – Setting Sail
I wonder what mixture of excitement and trepidation sailors feel when they first nudge their boats out of the harbor.
Harbors are safe. And that’s a comfort. But boats are not built to remain forever anchored. They are built to face the open seas.
In some significant ways, our little church is setting sail, journeying over uncharted seas. I don’t know about you, but I feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
On April 5, after much discussion in the last two years – and apparently even before that – we are launching double services. The Double Service Task Force has researched carefully, listened to people’s ideas and concerns, and helped all of us to make thoughtful plans.
When I look out over the usually full congregation on Sundays, I know we are making the right choice. I am thrilled with the numbers of newcomers coming through our doors. I am relieved they may now have places to sit comfortably when they join us. (As I write, I think back to the March 15 service and recall the headcount of 124
after kids and teachers left for classes.)
Our congregation clearly offers something to people, and our energy and numbers are increasing. I feel excited about the ways we can grow and the things we can achieve together. In addition, I feel well served by the thoughtful questioning, thinking, and guidance of the many people who have contributed to the plan we are about to set in motion.
Still, despite our careful planning, I am certain not every aspect of double services will be perfect at first. It’s probably safe to say we will never have everything perfect, in fact. We are fallible human beings, after all.
I wouldn’t be surprised to discover we haven’t thought of every single detail. Some things will doubtless have to be addressed after our voyage is underway. Most churches that have made this move tweak many things once they get going. And some churches report adjusting service times and programming more than once before feeling satisfied.
I am fully aware of how much easier it would be to leave our boat in the comfortable harbor. It would be easier to have just one service. (Don’t I know it! I am distinctly
not an early riser. And I imagine two services will require at least twice as much of my Sunday energy as one does.)
When I feel jittery about the change, as I sometimes do, I keep coming back to the image of the boat. We have done what we can with the one service in the space we have; now it’s time to chart new territory. I am confident our boat is seaworthy. So now it’s “all aboard” as we take to the open seas together.
See you at either 9:15 or 11:15 on April 5. (And don’t forget: Our hospitality gathering will take place between the two services, allowing people to make connections with friends who might attend the other service.)
Love,
Sylvia