Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Displacement
We have our annual church meeting this week. I’ve been here a year now and so the AGM is undergoing a radical re-shape. It’s trying to be more like a family time – with food, with comedy and live music, with sharing of what’s going on and talking about the future. There will still be motions and agendas, but the dominant image will, hopefully, be framed around the metaphor of family gathering. We have written to any and all our non-members to tell them about the changes and invite them along.
In preparation, I have been out and about shooting video. I made a list of all those new around Opawa since the last AGM and have been videoing them saying who they are and what they appreciate about Opawa.
Anyhow, I added up the list, and blow me down, there are nearly 60 new people. It’s been quite a year.
But then my thoughts jump. I wonder how it is for the long-timers. When 60 new people arrive, how do they feel? What are the pastoral issues associated with this sort of change? After all, the dominant metaphor is family.
)
amen to that steve… our old alt w group made a conscious decision at the outset to focus on stories – a different bible tale each month, beginning with creation and then covering a lot of the old favourites that get aired in sunday school but maybe not so much beyond that [jonah, noah and his ark, the magi, david and goliath, samson…]
it was a revelation, it completely revolutionised and revitalised my reading of the bible… brought the book alive again and let the contents breathe…
Comment by si smith — February 15, 2005 @ 10:22 pm
doh!
[of course the above-posted comment should be attached to sunday’s ‘reading for all it’s worth post’.
apologies…!]
Comment by si smith — February 15, 2005 @ 10:25 pm
Good thinking Steve! Of course how new people perceive a place is based largely on how the original members receive them. It is good to look at how the long-termers feel but as we have discovered sometimes how they ‘feel’ is not necessary right either. Does remind me a little of the ‘Lost Son’ story and how it was for the son who had stayed on and done everything ‘right’ and then to have to embrace and accept his brother back who didn’t exactly fit the mould. Jesus has alot to say on this I am sure. Blessings to you for the AGM. Hope it goes really well!!
Comment by Karen — February 16, 2005 @ 9:14 am