Boring

Have you ever seen someone who is unhappy about getting a raise or a new car or a new house??? Have you ever heard someone say they wish we sang the same hymns every week or heard the same sermon – at least for a month??? The truth is, we all want things to change because monotony and predictability are boring. If things stay the same, even if they are good things…we lose interest and excitement and we walk away.

So why do we keep hearing that people in churches resist change? Ron Heifitz (Director of the Leadership Center and the Kennedy School of Business at Harvard) says that people – even people in churches – want change. They just need to know what they are changing and what they are working toward. No one wants to be told that they have to change and not be told what they’ll be changing or why.

This is why it is important for us to identify our church’s vision for the future and some specific goals that will help us live into the vision. Then we will have a sense of what we are striving for and what we believe God wants for our future.

Many of you have participated in Focus Groups to help us imagine Christ Church’s vision and goals for the future – not something that everyone loves completely – but something that is authentic to who we are and to the ministry to which we are called. Now, the Transition Team and the Leadership Needs Committee and the Consistory will take all of the input from the focus groups and will prayerfully begin the work of discernment. Later in the summer, the fruits of their labors will be shared with everyone and probably refined some more.

My guess is that much of this work will be a strong affirmation of the strengths and gifts and values of this church that are known to all of us. And, I am guessing there will be a few surprises, because one of our strengths lies in the imagination and creativity of our members – and, interestingly – in our diversity. I feel certain that the results will be solid, inspiring and certainly not boring – it’s just who you are! As the sign in front of the church says, you are a people who gather for worship and go out to serve – and that’s never boring…..

Blessings for the Days Ahead – Laura Lee