Consider for a moment the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are given, activated, and unleashed in the course of a so-called average week in the life of our congregation. There is nothing average about it. It’s extraordinary, amazing, significant, and extravagant. God is good and God is gracious.
The thing is, you and I have grown accustomed to such beauty. In many and various ways it has become to us ordinary and normal.
As the air temperature increases as we enter summer, so has the frequency of my visits with my children to a favorite ice-cream parlor. The last time we were there, I enjoyed watching my son Rowan marvel at the variety of flavors. Life is too short to settle for Vanilla.
If God is the ice cream dipper, we are being served sometimes Black Raspberry, sometimes Mint Chocolate Chip, sometimes, let’s be honest, Rocky Road. There are various gifts given to each of us. Not any one of us is gifted in the same way as any other. We get to share our unique gifts so that the rich diversity of abilities, skills, and passions can be used to the Glory of God in our mutual ministry. What do you think?
Maybe we should put up a big tent and invite the surrounding neighborhoods together for an ice-cream social as an excuse to reflect more publicly on the will this Gracious Gift-giving God of ours has for the community in which we all live.
Since the leadership retreat was held earlier this year, we have had several opportunities to explore together ways in which we are challenged and called as a congregation. There were two information sharing sessions following worship before Lent. After the potluck supper on the Second Sunday of Easter we took some time in small groups to connect the dots and further analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as we anticipate the next several years ahead.
Since that time, a task force was convened to digest the results for presentation to the church council at their June meeting. Stay tuned for further updates and to learn ways in which you can participate in the visioning process as it moves forward.
Although I do not know for certain, I do anticipate that we all will have more concrete results and initiatives to consider in time for our annual meeting. Or, if the Holy Spirit provides, perhaps we will have a special congregational meeting sooner.
So, please keep all this in your prayers. And the next time you go out for ice cream, take a moment to consider the various options.
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