“Warning,
this column may be hazardous to your health, you may feel your blood
pressure rising, your face may flush; your heart may pound rapidly in
your chest! Brothers and sisters, you may even shout, ‘What is that
woman up to now?”
The answer,
my friends, is that a new year has begun, and I find myself thinking of
possibilities for ringing in the new, shaking things up a bit to create
an environment conducive to creative, positive and effective change. I
invite you to vision with me; maybe create your own list:
1)
Imagine that growing or building for the future was a vibrant part of
the identity, purpose, and mission of each member of the church.
“Wow!”
2)
Imagine what it would be like if every member contributed to the
financial health of the congregation. “Investing in their values!”
3)
Imagine the congregation seriously beginning to consider options for
enlarging the sanctuary space. “Welcoming!”
4)
Imagine asking each member of the congregation to make a “contribution
of record” to reflect their commitment to the congregation’s
well-being before becoming a “voting member.” “Healthy
congregation!”
5)
Imagine giving away the offering plate monies once a month for social
justice ministry. “But we barely make our budget!”
6)
Imagine the work of the church being done by diverse committees meeting
every month. “Growing the church responsibly AND congregation
building!”
7)
Imagine expanding the use of the RE building…the Newman building.
Sanctuary chairs could remain in place reducing Sunday morning chaos.
The Forum, etc. could meet in the Newman Building. “But the
Forum meets in the sanctuary!”
8)
Imagine thanking those who give so much to this congregation, especially
those who give much financially. “No, no, no!”
9)
Imagine “Not doing alone what two or more can do together!” an
ingredient in congregation building. “I hate to ask for help
when I can do it!”
10)
Imagine newly plastered and painted bathrooms with at least one of them
wheel chair accessible! “No more retro gold and funky room
divider?”
11)
Imagine the great many driving by UUCJ each day noticing
the church and knowing where it is. “Across from Putnam’s garage”
works for giving directions.”
12)
What about sprucing up the outside of the building to go
with the new parking lot? “It looks okay to me, a few shingles
missing, some green…”
13)
Imagine the front entrance to the church permanently wheelchair
accessible. “We have that ramp for those who send someone in to get
it, if they know about it!”
14)
Imagine a generous budget with more for speakers and pulpit
supply, and undesignated funds for “extras” “But we barely make
our budget as is!”
15)
Imagine the two church buildings connected with a traffic flow space
uniting UUCJ’s children with the rest of the congregation. “Maybe
next year….if ever!”
16)
Imagine solutions to the inevitable parking problems of the
future….maybe arrangements could be made with neighboring businesses
now. “Futuristic.”
WHAT DO YOU
SAY; SHALL WE RING IN SOME NEW?
JL
