--Jack Lohr, Interim Pastor
Notes from "Holy Conversation" Mission Study Meeting -- March 9, 2011
Present: Alette Ahlfeldt, Roe Gift, Laurel Hopper, Carol Lasher, Manton Martin 1. What do you think "Church" means? What do you think is the purpose of our church? Can you put it into one sentence?
Spiritual home
Gathering of a variety of people
When I was younger it was physical building now I think of faces. We are the church.
It is a building. It's our physical home. Makes us feel comfortable, relaxed, able to go above and beyond ourselves.
When I come into the church, the simplicity of the building, the colors, the serenity, the peacefulness enhanced my experience.
"Where two or three are gathered in my name." Being with people to pray together and meditate together is important.
Teaching the children the Good News of the gospel
Definitely a home for all God’s children.
If just one word: EVERYTHING.
The purpose of our church is to worship God.To be a presence in the community. The building and the people are witness to anybody who passes, and whoever we speak to and whoever comes in for any other activity.
Remember the winter Sunday last year when so many people stayed for safety and lunch.
The presence, reaching out to community is a way of sharing the good news.
I think church has an obligation not only to teach the children but help everyone to grow in their knowledge.
Yes. My personal experience is that I sometimes feel flat-footed. I need to spend more time.
When I thought about it, what I learned when very young: to know love and to serve God.
It gives action/outreach, development of spirituality and understanding, and your worship.
I like the way it’s expressed in our mission statement – to pray, to give praise and thanks, sums it up: to worship.
2. What brought you to this congregation? What keeps you here?
We knew some people; my husband was not interested too much. Yet the children went some, but it didn’t catch on in some way.
A neighbor invited us. Many friends here. Trouble in another church.
Another church was not friendly. Friend said, go to Mount Kisco. Good minister. Wonderful people.
Word of mouth has a lot to do with it. We were friendly with another family through Rotary. They heard we were looking. Recommendation of friends. Builds community.
It would be a dual thing: invitation. I was extremely dissatisfied with where we had been attending. We were attending but I couldn’t join it. Then we came here and what keeps me for the longest time was having my spiritual needs addressed. When they were not being addressed, it’s the sense of community that keeps me here.
3. What are important qualities of this church?
Openness to all. And friendship that goes with that.
Caring for fellow parishioners. Not only in need, but gathering together. And spending time together outside the church.
With openness--we have it now, but there was a time when there wasn’t that much.More open now.
I’ve been here since 76—more accepting of ideas that haven’t always fit in. church/non-church. Think of the children’s pageant. Acceptance of someone coming in and doing something so different. In the old days, it had to be in the afternoon. People have talents that are welcome.
The young people seem to feel so much at home. They can't wait to get up for the children’s message. Now the children are part of the service.
There’s a different spirit in this church, and maybe it’s the children who give the vibrancy. They energize me.
Sometime a little too much.
The joys and concerns. Brings people together. The sharing and the willingness to share.
Music program is important. Terry is very open and involved.
Organ. Volunteer choir. They’re great.
I'd like to see children involved with watching him play the organ.
When the organ first came in the kids would come up and watch.
Worship is a dimension of our life that’s very important.
Communication between congregation and minister/sometimes we got overboard in what we have.
Still growing into ownership. It's heady stuff.
One of the things that makes me proud to be a member is our outreach. Not only what we’ve done historically but what we continue to do. ESP was new. No question that we'd do it. We still do Midnight Run. Food pantry. They may be little, mundane things to others, but I think they’re important
Everyone has different interests (pet projects). Working with children, or food panty etc.
This is a terrific space. It’s not empty. I learned so much working in church office, to see how much it is used.
I’m very proud of our openness to the Islamic School. We thought we might rent to a temple. That would have been the best of all three faiths.
There's just a lot that we do quietly that I think makes a difference.
Look at Jenny’s School 21 years ago. A tiny seed that grew.
We haven’t gotten too far with becoming interracial. Not just Asian, but more Black and comfortable. The numbers now are growing.
4. What would you like to find in this church if you were suddenly transported five years into the future?
More secure financial situation that would enable us to extend our mission. We’re strapped right now.
The pews filled.
Young people continue. Kids still coming.
Molly's being here with two young kids was a definite boon. One of the legacies that she left us.
I could still make it to church.
Accessible to people who have a hard time getting up and down stairs.
Bells still ringing.
Growing into ownership of the members complete. A way of passing the tradition on to new members.
In some ways better organized better understanding our roles and responsibilities particularly of officers. What I talked about at session institutionalizing things so people don't have to reinvent the wheel. Not to stop change or creativity but to give people a leg up to understand their roles.
Sponsors for new members to integrate them
People need attention brought to welcoming/reaching new people. Sunday morning to say hello.
I remember when first came and everything new. I remember coming to church and I hesitated going into coffee. Feel alone. It seemed cliquey. We stood there like lost lemon drops.
I probably looked sad. 2 years after husband passed away. Trying to start new life. Encourage people to go in,
Like to see us continue vibrant worship service. Music, a lot of opportunities for spiritual development, through things like Bible study, Lent special observation.
We're getting it again. But it’s continuing.
We always think it has to be a big group. If only 5 or 6 come out. Small group can be fine.
Food always a come-on.
More emphasis on benevolence and mission within the community. Women’s Association has touched many lives. The entire congregation may not appreciate that.
At some point emphasis on explaining to the congregation. What these organizations are doing, and how they benefit form our help. Encourage more personal participation.
Some stability. In minister. No more upheavals.
Any relationship takes work. It’s a two-way street.
If there's conflict you still have to work at it.
It’s made of human beings. Whether steeple, or club or whatever.
Where I’m coming form is not that I see all long pastorates as terrible. But this is a church that had a history of two long pastorates, and strong dominating individuals, and to me that is inherently not healthy for organization. I look at 10 years as a nice time. Maybe long, but 10 might be time to move on.
You get set in ways and cliques develop, and people say, "We've always done it this way."
It’s also healthy.
Relief of having a change.
See us have a CE person professional
Volunteers are doing a wonderful job, but to keep children here and growing we need a CE person.
5. Now that you've thought about our church's purpose, what gifts would you see a new pastor bringing to this place?
Pastoral care. Still to heal.
Worship and music involved has a theme or relationship.
Like to see coordination.
Wholly integrated.
Good sermon.
Bulletin has gotten elaborate.Too much to follow.
A singer, maybe tenor?
Skill in conflict resolution.
Small group skills
Leadership development
Knows how to take care of self. We could suck the life out of you.We are demanding in our expectations of the minister.
Who is the minister to the minister?
Institutionalizing ways of operating that show that we don’t push someone.
As church moves into younger age, with more and more young people, and we who are here fade away, one of the things the young people want is creativity. It’s a skill that pastor needs to use to benefit of church and self.
I really believe that we’re on the right path. So my hope is that we can continue growing and not in lockstep but everyone at their own pace and to their own needs and skill
I'm excited about the prospects.
In the past I said, "Who would want to come to us! Nobody."
It is very important that we get a good nominating committee.With all the things we’ve been through shouldn’t have a short-term pastorate.
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