It has been said that if you want to make God laugh, tell God your plans. I think we all know that sometimes life throws us curveballs. And yet planning for the future is what we do; we don’t really have any other choice. If we don’t make plans we
end up looking silly, aimlessly wandering around without an idea about what to do. Come to think of it, I think that people without plans make up a large part of daytime TV watching. How else can we explain Judge Judy? Actually, some of us enjoy making plans. The trick is to be flexible when we have to make adjustments because our plans haven’t come together as planned.
Many have asked me where the process is regarding new services this fall. One of our curveballs was the change in clergy staffing that wasn’t factored into the equation when we first put our timetable down on paper. Given that I mentioned the hope for new services in the fall I feel the need to share the latest information with those who are curious.
The short answer is that we’re still moving forward with plans to add a 9:15 am Sunday service in the Parish Hall. I am working to make sure that we have the necessary clergy support to begin the service, even before we have hired a long-term Associate Rector (more on that later). We also have some legwork to do in terms of upgrading the parish hall to make the space more conducive for meaningful worship. The ideal plans call for refinishing and adding a little bit of liturgical furniture, purchasing new chairs, creating the feel of a smaller space, purchasing hymnals, and finding a musician to name some of what’s involved. In order to give the service its best chance to succeed we will do it well and with great intention from Sunday one. To make all this happen we have to figure out how to fund them first. I can’t say exactly when a service will start, but it likely won’t happen before Advent.
We are also going to try to make as much room as we can at St. Ignatius for the Saturday night service. A second service is not a likely solution, but we think we can make more room in the space to allow for some growth in the short term while we keep discerning the long-term solution in that space. The biggest part of making room will involve finding a new home for the organ at St. Ignatius so we can add comfortable chairs to the transept and position them so that those seated in the transept can see most of the service. The organ has not been played regularly for a very long time, in large part because many find the tone to be less than appealing for worship. We have been in touch with the descendants of the family that donated the organ to Christ Church many years ago and they have given us their blessing to find it a new home. That too, will take an undetermined amount of time.
In terms of other items that came out of the town hall meetings and survey process, the Vestry is researching options for expanded parking on our properties, which will allow us some breathing room for growth as we add services. To that end we are having necessary survey work done to find out how much of our available land is usable and what our options for parking might be. We are also discussing whether or not to engage in a Master Planning process so that when we do add parking we put it in the right place for the long-term benefit of the parish. We don’t want to discover in ten years time that we wish we had built our parking somewhere else! I’ve already mentioned what can happen when we make plans, but we’re still going to do our best!
As for our clergy staffing, we are taking it slowly when it comes to finding another long-term Associate Rector. This is not the ideal season for finding and calling Associate clergy, but I am working with the wardens to ensure that we have the clergy support we need in the short term. Mother Becky has stepped into the full time Associate position and will be able to continue in that position as long as we need her to. Her ultimate goal is still to experience parish leadership for herself and utilize her gifts and expanded training in conflict resolution to the benefit of the wider church. For now, and for as long as we need her, she’s still here, for which I am extremely grateful. Becky and I have both received comments of concern for our well being; rest assured that in the short term we can handle things with a little help from our friends!
So, we’re still making plans, and I don’t think God is laughing at us. I think God is cheering us on. I’m still taking a long view on ministry at Christ Church. We’ve been here a long time and we’ll be here for a long time to come. We can’t plan for everything or see the future. Goodness knows, if it were possible to see the future, Anson Dodge would have put in a parking lot for us, I have no doubt. Regardless, we can do our utmost best to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow where we are able. As God calls out to us continue and expand our role as a strong center for preaching the Gospel and building the Kingdom in this community we’ll do our best to make the crooked paths straight and smooth out some of the hills.
Tom+
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.