Butterflies, Photos and Us

We were recently driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, taking a break from the stress and hustle-bustle of interstate traffic.  It wasn’t the same as walking through the forests or along the beach, but was a good alternative, when driving was the mode of transportation for the day.  You might say I was transformed by the experience.  Stopping at pull-offs along the way, camera in hand to capture the beauty of the mountains of North Carolina, a short hike to a new vantage point - I felt different; more relaxed, happier, freer.  Same trip - new context – new sense of being. 

Transformation – a word we hear a lot these days.  What does it mean, really?  I usually think about transformation as bringing something new into existence – like a butterfly, created anew from a caterpillar.  In its new form, come new possibilities.  Like wings to fly.  A new existence.   A different existence.  It doesn’t take anything away from the caterpillar – it’s just different.   I see it happen in my photography, too.  A photo of berries in the brush along the road is just another nice picture, but move a few inches and catch the blues and purples of the mountains in the background – an image transformed.   Same berries – same brush – new context – new vision emerged. 

The Board is beginning a 6-month discussion about who we are as a congregation; about the growth we have experienced – and haven’t.  About our purpose together – all of us.  Our goal is to take a fresh look at our vision of the future and we need you.  In a time when more and more people are choosing not to attend a church of any kind, when people don’t even know much about their own religions, according to a recent Pew study, you choose to belong.  And you choose this church, our church. 

We have the same name as we always have.  We’re in the same building in the same neighborhood as we have been since the 60’s.  More than half of us – myself included – have been members more than twenty years.  And the world around us has changed.  New context.  New congregation.  Not better – not worse – just different.  What is the story of our congregation at this time in our history?  What is our growth story?  What do we mean by growth?  It’s more than numbers the Board is reminded by Loren Mead in his book we are reading. 

We want to hear from you why you choose to belong, why you give your time and resources.  When we distinguish – and are clear about - who we are today, we will be ready to transform ourselves as a congregation and will be ready to own our future and the many possibilities it presents.  As we celebrate who we have been, we welcome who we will become.

In Faith,

Nancy

Now we Gather

Paul and I spent a couple of hours yesterday walking around Longwood Gardens – always a beautiful place to be any time of year. The air was crisp, there was quite a breeze, and there were a few clouds in the sky, but no rain. Besides walking, I was there to learn more about the settings on my camera and play with a new lens. We started by checking out the sunflower fields that I read about in the paper in the morning. Just down the road from the main entrance there are acres and acres of sunflowers in full bloom at this special time of year of ingathering. Wow – you couldn’t help but be happy around all those sunshiny faces, nodding to each other in the wind, happily greeting the bees who came to taste what they had to offer. There was a steady stream of people gathering to take in the beauty of it all - old people, young people, families with children – smiling, chatting, walking in wonder through the field, in search of the perfect photo.

It’s not so different from church, is it? On Sunday, we’ll be gathering once again. I look forward to seeing your sunshiny faces there, welcoming each other, nodding and chatting with each other, meeting new people who have been drawn to this spiritual home of seekers we love. I hope that you come with great hopes and dreams of who we must be in the world – and that you share them with me and the others on our board.

See you in church!

In faith,

Nancy

Envisioning the BEST YEAR EVER

I finally got out my bicycle last week for the first time this year, and have added biking to my short list of spiritual practices. Riding away from the traffic can be just as spiritually fulfilling as walking – although harder to take photos! While biking on Tuesday, I was reflecting on the theme of “building bridges” that came up during a retreat I participated in on the last Saturday in August with one of our exceptional church teams. We were working on our plans for the upcoming church year, talking about our promises to each other and envisioning what a BEST YEAR EVER would be. Before considering what we might do, we considered how we would feel in June next year, what we would have experienced, what we learned, what difference we would have made together, if it had been the BEST YEAR EVER in our church. The vision this team held was truly inspiring to me. It went something like this.

“Imagine it’s June and it’s been the BEST YEAR EVER. I’m bringing my friends to church because…

• I have experienced what it’s like to be part of a “second family” who includes me, respects me and cares for me just as I am, no matter what I believe. In this home, I don’t have to hide my feelings and I can share them without fear of judgment.
• I have learned how Unitarian Universalism impacts my daily life, raising my awareness of my own values, helping me to clarify my own goals and developing new ideas that launch me into the world with newly gained confidence. I have learned about other religions and beliefs, and because of it I know myself better and am more prepared to engage with others in the world that are different from me.
• I have experienced many different spiritual practices, which have helped me in my own search for what is right for me in my spiritual growth. I can safely ask “who am I” while engaging with others who are asking the same question.
• I have helped to make a difference in the community outside our church, helping our church to have an identity beyond ourselves.
• I feel connected – to others in my group, to the broader church community, and to the community outside our church.
• I have had fun, danced, sung, experienced great music – and experienced the holy.

It’s a powerful vision and I’m blessed to be a part of it.

Did I mention that this team was the Youth Ministry Team – a team of our high school youth leaders and their adult co-leaders and advisors, along with our DRE, Catherine Williamson? Our youth are enthusiastic about creating a deep and enriching experience at church. They have a clear vision of our purpose as a church and the difference it makes in their lives and the lives of others. We sang “Building Bridges” and talked about ways for the youth to connect with the rest of the church community – as well as those outside our church. Wonderful!

So, imagine its June 2011 and it’s been the BEST YEAR EVER? Why are YOU bringing YOUR friends to church?   Let a board member know – it’s important.

In faith,

Nancy