Wednesday evening I met with members of the St Fergus Community Association. We had some planning to do for the Community Association's Family Christmas Eve program at the church, St Fergus Parish Church, the church where I am minister. I had met with the Committee two or three previous times, and gradually a Christmas Eve program began to emerge. It really came together nicely last Wednesday. I really enjoy working with the members of the committee. The leader of the committee and the willingness of the members to work on projects in the village amaze me.
I remember the first time I went to the meeting of the Community Association. One of the members of the committee attends the church when her fishing boat captain is home from the sea. She invited me to come as minister of the church to talk to them about a family Christmas Eve program at the Village Hall. I agreed to go. When I first went to the Village Hall for the September meeting, I expected to meet older people on the Committee. But when I got there a little early, I was surprised to meet four twenty- and thirty-something moms. Soon four more of the same walked in. The meeting was unlike any meeting I have ever been in. They worked well together and made plans for specific action.
In that meeting and in each of the meetings since, I have been impressed with each member of the committee. At that first meeting, I just stayed while we discussed the Christmas Eve program and then left. But I have stayed longer the following meetings in order to take part in discussions about other village matters. There are some good leaders in the group. Everybody is committed to seeing that there is more of a sense of community in the village. They are all busy mothers. Many of them get together in the Village Hall for a time for toddlers and mothers once a week. A few of them can't make the monthly meetings because their husbands are working in the North Sea oilfields. I have moderated many meetings and I know how hard it can be. I was impressed with the work of the com-mittee and its leadership.
At the last meeting, the main topic of discussion was the Family Christmas Eve program at the church, just before the church's Christmas Eve service. The Village Committee decided to move the Family Christmas Eve program from the Village Hall to the church. The Church Elders agreed and supported the Family Program moving into the church. We talked about what we would do for the children during the very short program. They have asked me to be the MC, something I am very hap-py to do. I enjoyed participating in the the exchange of ideas. They are a creative group. I am really looking forward to the program for the children on Christmas Eve. As I had done before, I stayed for other items on the agenda. I desire to keep on participating on the committee in the months and hope-fully years to come.
I have been praying about ways to open up St Fergus Parish Church to the village. I am concerned that many villagers would never set foot in the church except at a funeral. Perhaps it is fear of the un-known. I am excited that parents and grandparents will be coming with children of the village for this fun Christmas Eve program. I will invite them to stay for the church's short Christmas Eve service. Several of the committee members have already told me that they would like to stay for the service after the children's program. We need to be able to welcome people from the village. Christmas Eve is a great way to start developing our hospitality to people in the community.
But most of all, I had a glimpse of what I would like to see happening at St Fergus Parish Church: people who are in their 20s and 30s committing themselves to meet together and plan things that serve others. I would like to see them doing things at the church with the same zest that they meet to-gether for the Community Association meetings. I yearn to see them do so for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The church here has a great group of elders, but they are growing older and I don't see younger people coming up behind them (really, behind us). I pray that in the near future the younger people of St Fergus would experience the new life that the crucified and risen Jesus brings to people. I also look forward to a new generation of leaders and other members of St Fergus Parish Church who would serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the people of North-East Scotland.
If you are the praying type, please remember us in your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
In that meeting and in each of the meetings since, I have been impressed with each member of the committee. At that first meeting, I just stayed while we discussed the Christmas Eve program and then left. But I have stayed longer the following meetings in order to take part in discussions about other village matters. There are some good leaders in the group. Everybody is committed to seeing that there is more of a sense of community in the village. They are all busy mothers. Many of them get together in the Village Hall for a time for toddlers and mothers once a week. A few of them can't make the monthly meetings because their husbands are working in the North Sea oilfields. I have moderated many meetings and I know how hard it can be. I was impressed with the work of the com-mittee and its leadership.
At the last meeting, the main topic of discussion was the Family Christmas Eve program at the church, just before the church's Christmas Eve service. The Village Committee decided to move the Family Christmas Eve program from the Village Hall to the church. The Church Elders agreed and supported the Family Program moving into the church. We talked about what we would do for the children during the very short program. They have asked me to be the MC, something I am very hap-py to do. I enjoyed participating in the the exchange of ideas. They are a creative group. I am really looking forward to the program for the children on Christmas Eve. As I had done before, I stayed for other items on the agenda. I desire to keep on participating on the committee in the months and hope-fully years to come.
I have been praying about ways to open up St Fergus Parish Church to the village. I am concerned that many villagers would never set foot in the church except at a funeral. Perhaps it is fear of the un-known. I am excited that parents and grandparents will be coming with children of the village for this fun Christmas Eve program. I will invite them to stay for the church's short Christmas Eve service. Several of the committee members have already told me that they would like to stay for the service after the children's program. We need to be able to welcome people from the village. Christmas Eve is a great way to start developing our hospitality to people in the community.
But most of all, I had a glimpse of what I would like to see happening at St Fergus Parish Church: people who are in their 20s and 30s committing themselves to meet together and plan things that serve others. I would like to see them doing things at the church with the same zest that they meet to-gether for the Community Association meetings. I yearn to see them do so for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The church here has a great group of elders, but they are growing older and I don't see younger people coming up behind them (really, behind us). I pray that in the near future the younger people of St Fergus would experience the new life that the crucified and risen Jesus brings to people. I also look forward to a new generation of leaders and other members of St Fergus Parish Church who would serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the people of North-East Scotland.
If you are the praying type, please remember us in your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
2 comments:
I love your vision for opening up your church to the community! This is God's vision for the church. To be a connection with the world. I have been praying for those young moms. May they feel a sense of God's presence and the call of God to connect with tradition and their roots. So many young families want to pass some values on to their kids and maybe this could be an opportunity. blessings, Dave liu
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