A bunch of years ago, when I was in seminary full-time and serving my first full-time appointment, life felt like one big juggling act. We were living in Altoona, my sons were 12 and 3, and each semester I had to drive to United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio for 10-12 days of intensive classes.
On one of those trips, I was running rampant trying to get everything ready at both churches, packing my bags, running to CVS for last-minute things, kissing my family goodbye, and jumping in the car. I plugged the seminary’s address into my dashboard GPS, and the voice calmly said, “Start out going northwest on South East Street.” I laughed out loud. I’d never felt more seen! I was being pulled in every possible direction. Going “northwest on South East Street” captured exactly how I felt.
Since arriving at Elm Park, I’ve felt that same energy: excitement, possibility, creativity, and an almost dizzying number of things we could do together. But I’m reminded that before we can go anywhere meaningful, we have to know our destination and we have to start out going the right direction.
And I believe we are.
Our direction is outward.
If we want to grow into a more vibrant, life-filled, Spirit-led church, we have to reach out—to our neighbors, our city, and our community. We can’t just hope people find their way here. We have to invite them into worship, into events, into relationship. We have to offer genuine hospitality, radical welcome, and unconditional grace when they do show up. That’s why we’re asking folks to wear nametags…because that’s a welcoming thing to do!
Friends, our destination is clear…to be a wide-open, fully affirming, deeply welcoming congregation that embraces every single person who walks through our doors and every person who hasn’t yet. And sometimes it feels like we’re being stretched in every way possible. Sometimes it feels like we’re being told to start out going northwest on South East Street. There’s a lot to do to get to our destination. But let’s not be pulled in every direction. Let’s move forward together, with purpose and love and let’s start out going the right way.
Packing the car,
Jason