2 posts tagged “church”

“This Church”  by Ann Weems

We don’t pretend to understand the mystery

of what goes on in God’s Church.

We just know we feel a pervading spirit of love

that reaches into the niches of all of us

and pulls us out into the open,

free and alive and belonging.

We believe this spirit of love exists because

God’s spirit lives within this Church,

this unity of persons trying to be the Good News.

We see this Church as a circle of persons

holding hands... and dancing...

Supporting each other, accepting each other,

loving each other.

Each person in this dancing circle

is facing outward....reaching into God’s world,

listening for the whimpering,

watching for the hurting,

willing to offer a cup of cold water in His name.

Sometimes they need the water;

sometimes you need the water;

sometimes I need the water.

Being a part of the church

means knowing that the cup is always filled in His name.

[Ann Weems is the author of a number of books of poetry including Kneeling in Jerusalem, Putting the Amazing Back in Grace, and Psalms of Lament. She has served on the National Committee of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship]  

God Squad 1

All this talk about vital churches leaves me with the need to describe the qualities of a healthy, vital congregation.  The following is not my own creation, but rather from Christian Schwartz of the NCD.

Here are eight qualities of healthy, vital congregations:

1. Empowering leadership: The kind that multiplies leaders rather than just attracts followers.
2. Gifted service: people discover their joys, gifts and talents and exercise them in and outside of the life of the congregation.
3. Passionate Spirituality: People are involved out of joy and gratitude rather than just a sense of obiligation or duty.  They are highly motiviated and enthusiastic.
4. Functional Structures: Our structures and organizations work so well that we can be enriched by but not imprisoned in our past.
5. Inspiring worship: worship is an excersie of the heart as well as the mind.  In worship we are moved and enlightened.
6. Small Group Life: Many small groups enrich the spiritual life and growth of congregants.
7. Evangelism: We in the Episcopal Church don't like this word...tough! We should be highly effective at attracting and incorporating the unchurched and young people who have been "outside the fold."
8. Loving Relationships:Our life together is characterized by deep mutual caring and enriched by lots of healthy humor.

In conclusion, this is what I dream and envision for St. Clare's in Pleasanton!