Take notice and celebrate

I took a walk along the “green way” today with my friend and fellow Board member, Cindy – at her invitation. There was snow on the ground, it was cold – and we were bundled up pretty well to stay warm. It was great to have Cindy with me – I may have missed seeing a hawk, which she spotted along the way. As we walked along a wooded area, we noticed many small birds in the shrubbery, which were blending in until they suddenly all shifted their positions on the branches. Cindy pointed out the geese on the hill as we walked back to her car. It’s amazing what we see when we’re consciously looking - noticing. Thanks, Cindy!

New Year’s Eve – a time to reflect on the past year – notice and celebrate our accomplishments – and then look forward to the possibilities of the next. I’ve tried some new things this year – a new spiritual practice and this blog being one of them. I’ve joined the ranks of Facebook players, reconnecting with many old friends along with today’s friends and family. I’ve taken a class in spiritual journaling – and loved it. I’ve joined several wonderful small groups – brown bag, women’s spirituality, open circles – and continued with an existing group of incredible women outside of church. I have traveled to other parts of the world and recorded my thoughts and photography in a book which has become a treasured memory for others as well. Through all of these I have a renewed consciousness about my life, my creativity and my spiritual being. This is something to celebrate as the year comes to an end. What have you accomplished in 2009? I hope you will take the time to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments – regardless of how big or small. If you’re brave, you’ll share them in a comment to this blog.

And what possibilities lie in front of us? In Open Circles, we reflected on the question “Do you believe in imagining a life and then trying to live it”? We could ask a similar question about church life – is it possible to imagine the church we want to be and then have it happen? I, for one, believe that we create our experience of life – of church - through our attitudes and actions and the ways in which we react to things that happen around us. As a congregation, knowing we are here to renew ourselves, each other, and those beyond our walls, the possibilities are endless. What do you notice already? Like the hawk high on a pole, the birds in the shrubs, and the geese on the hill - great things are already happening – we just need to look around and see for ourselves.

In faith,

Nancy

Hope and change

I set out to walk one day last week with my son, contemplating “hope” – the theme for December for First U. We heard about it from Josh, we’ve discussed it at Open Circle meetings. As I walked, I noticed this large, old tree on a hill, soil eroded underneath it, holding on for dear life by its roots. That tree has hope, I thought. Hope to survive, somehow. Hope for things to stay the way they once were, maybe. It seems unlikely this tree will last forever – like most things in life. It will fall and return to the earth over years. There are cycles and things change. It’s the same way at church. We hang on for dear life to things we remember and cherish – and then we let go. The energy is focused elsewhere and we need to go where the energy is.

I joined the Board almost 5 years ago – filled with hope for our church. It was the first of what became 3 interim years before we would call a new senior minister. A time of upheaval – a time of change. I had faith that we would come through this challenging time – and flourish. Like the tree, our roots would hold us fast – to our principles, our values. Like the tree, we held on to our past. Like the tree, we moved on with the help of able ministers and leadership. It’s been a great time to be on the Board – and getting better. We’ve worked out some of the kinks of how we govern and are thinking a lot more about our future. Soon, we’ll be looking for people to cycle on to the Board, while 3 people cycle off. More change – new ideas. Ask us about it – you may find it’s just the rewarding experience you are seeking.

Speaking of seeking and hope – after a pretty good walk that took us from Mt. Lebanon Rd through the Brandywine Creek St. Park to Thompson’s Bridge, we decided to turn around and try the Rocky Run trail. According to the map (which we left at home, naturally), it looped up one side of a creek – Rocky Run, I suppose – and then across and back along the other side. As we climbed the hill, the trail soon became a small trickle of water, and then a shallow stream. We stepped from side to side, trying to avoid the obvious mud holes, and finally came to the point where we followed the trail down the hill to cross the creek. Hmm – no bridge. And the rocks were far enough apart that I was not willing to risk falling in with my precious camera. So – on we went, back up the hill, sure we would find a better place to cross. It was quite a while – and we found ourselves at a farm (later found it on the map near the corner of Woodlawn Rd and Thompson’s Bridge Rd). Back into the woods – over the creek at a safer place. Over another branch of the creek. Talk about hope. I was definitely hoping to find the “blue” trail that would lead us home.  Sometimes we meander through the unknown – and we find our way through, and out the other side, with new knowledge and new memories of our adventures. I like what Martin Luther King has to say about hope... "We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope." 

Safely at home, after hiking three and a half hours, I was definitely ready for a rest!

 

In faith,

Nancy

Feeling renewed

On Sunday, I listened to Lani present our long-range plan for the second time. Who are we? We are a church that renews – within, among and beyond. Simple – and memorable. And that is our focus now and for the next 3 to 5 years. It’s a great message. We come to our church for personal renewal – spiritually and ethically – so that we are whole and ready to support each other and do good work in the world. Our leaders – ministers and volunteers – are aligning around renewal this year. Are you experiencing this on Sunday mornings? Do you come away from your committee experiences feeling renewed? Have you joined an Open Circle or another form of small group? How are you connecting with others and renewing yourself?

The Board of Trustees is “small group” where we can also focus on renewal – in fact, we must. We have significant accountabilities for the welfare of the church AND we grow together in community. To lead, we must first have the strength to lead. We take care of each other. Such has been my experience this year. It is easy for the President to be swallowed up by the job. I am fortunate to have fellow Board members who care – and remind me to take care of myself. After all, there are nine of us doing this great work.

I have just returned for the 7th or 8th time this year from South Carolina, where Paul and I have been helping to look after aging parents. There have been three deaths in Paul’s family this year – and this was one of those trips. This is also a busy time for the Board – coming up on mid-year: planning for sessions to connect with the congregation, communicating the results of the long range planning effort, addressing our financial health at mid-year, reviewing audit results, beginning the process to bring on new Board members for next year, planning for next year’s budget, planning for the Annual meeting – and still managing the regular monitoring of our church operations and progress. With all that is going on, Board members readily step in to backfill for each other – and for me this time – so we have the time we need for personal care. It is a gift – and it is what our church is all about.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members for this gift of renewal – and for our time together.

In faith,

Nancy