Starting the New Year with a Grateful Heart
"I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers." (Ephesians 1:16)
My prayer life these days has been full of thanksgiving! Last week Jeff and I attended a minister's conference at Georgetown College featuring well known speakers and teachers from across the country. It was a great opportunity for learning right in our own backyards. In addition to hearing some of today's greats proclaiming the gospel message, we had opportunities to attend workshops and breakout sessions. One session I attended was mysteriously titled, "Resourcing the Church" and led by Bo Prosser. I had not previously heard of prosser, but the topic peaked my interest so I attended in hopes of learning something new and relevant for ministry today.
Turns out Dr. Prosser is a Christian Educator and Storyteller, both of which are subjects close to my heart. He began the workshop by reciting the story, "The Big Orange Splot" by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. This is a charming story of a 'neat street' in a 'neat town.' All the houses look alike, all the people look alike, talk alike, act alike and they like it that way. One day, by sheer circumstance, a seagull drops a can of paint onto Mr. Plumbean's house. His big orange splot disrupts the neatness of this street and the neighbors demand that he do something about this disaster. Mr. Plumbean thinks on this splot for a time and decides he likes it…it seems to remind him of his dreams. So, he proceeds to go to the paint store and repaint his house to look like his dreams. His house morphs into a remarkable collection of bright colors and more splots, stripes and murals of animals and pretty girls and steam shovels. His house no longer matches their neat street, but looks more of what his dreams look like. The neighbors gather and complain and speak to Plumbean about this horrible catastrophe and one by one they begin to listen to him and remake their own homes to look like their own dreams…and this 'neat street' is transformed into bright colors and murals and activities and imagination reflecting and celebrating each persons' individuality and imagination.
Dr. Prosser then challenged those of us who gathered that day to imagine what the church looked like if it suddenly became the color of our dreams. I swelled with great pleasure when I realized that our church is already taking on that look. You see, the week prior to our conference was a week full of activity, chaos, and yes…even imaginative beauty at our church. Our secretary was taking some much-needed time off and volunteers came in to help with the daily running of the church. We had volunteers working in the nursery to make sure our space for babies and small children was bright, beautiful and welcoming as well as safe and sanitized. We had an influx of calls and people coming by to work on the clothing room: stocking donations, organizing space and creating a workspace that helps our volunteers work more efficiently and more comfortably. We had a gathering of adults from every age and background coming together to share their gifts for music and ministry. We had people working in the kitchen to put together a fellowship meal that considers our responsibilities to be good stewards of God's earth. There was a group of concerned leaders of the church who came together in love to comfort and provide guidance to one of our own in need. There were calls and visits to inquire on the health and wellbeing of one of our elders who was recently injured (and responses to this family's needs).We had a youth gathering where plans were forming to join with churches across our community to celebrate our oneness in the body of Christ as well as our opportunity to host one such event. We had a cabinet meeting where leaders of the church gathered together to plan out the ministries of the church for our present year…and each ministry team's focus remains on the fulfillment of our gospel mandate to share our faith in the world and to become a community that truly welcomes ALL God's people!
For me, I know exactly what the church of my dreams looks like…It looks like First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) right here in Paris, KY. What does the church of your dreams look like?
Blessings,
Tracy