Transitions usually represent some type of movement. Just this past week, our weather patterns have shifted to provide us with more of a “fall” experience versus “summer” experience, with cooler temperatures. In Holy Trinity’s case, it is moving forward in not only our search for our next pastor, but also in how we now perceive ourselves as a church community, compared to three years ago.
As we ride the coattails of the month of August, with school starting up and perhaps vacations coming to a close, we look forward to a robust September in our church life. Our seasons of the church change, yet it is one and the same Spirit that guides us.
Pastor Chip Robinson will be with us for his last Sunday on September 7th. We are grateful for his presence with us this summer. On September 14th we welcome Pastor Luther back into the fold, after having a good summer at Emmanuel Church in Manchester-by-the Sea. On September 15th, Holy Trinity is sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive. On September 21st, we welcome our Synod representative, Pastor Mark Lingle. Pastor Lingle will both assist and guide us in our transition process. He will answer any questions as well as help explain the process, including the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT). Our Sunday for God’s Work, Our Hands will take place on September 28th. We once again will be working with the Outreach Program to pack meals to be shared with our neighbors in need.
We use tools to help us in transition, with hopes of defining a new path It is interesting to think about tools. Some tools help us problem solve such as using a level before hanging something. Some tools help us move through a painful experience such as deep breathing through anxiety.
Some tools help us access joy such as using a shovel to dig a garden or a bicycle to ride. Some tools simply help us move into a new space such as hinges on a door. What are some of the tools you use to access God’s space to problem solve, move through painful experiences, access joy, or to enter a new chapter.
The CAT is a tool the Synod and we will use to help us write our Ministry Site Profile. Our Ministry Site Profile is what prospective pastors read to learn about where we are. I think of it similar to forms we fill out at our doctor’s office each year to update them on our health status. Our doctor wants to know what has changed or not changed.
In that same light, perhaps the Congregation Assessment Tool will shed light on what has changed for us and what has not changed. My hope is that during the next three months as we talk about who we are now and reflect on our last three years with Pastor Luther, we can be “Rooted in Gratitude and Growing in Hope”.
Erlinde Beliveau