Thoughts from a church meeting last night
Last night, I sat at a table here at University Church with a few well-known church members and one not-so-well known. We had all gathered for a meeting on the church's upcoming stewardship campaign.
As we began our meal, I inquired of the person I didn't know so well how she and her family had happened to arrive to our church--how did they find their way to University Congregational?
She responded that her husband worked in the neighborhood and upon their return to her hometown of Wichita a couple of years ago, they decided to do some church shopping. Our church was an obvious place to start their journey and they anticipated that they would be looking for a church "home" for at least a while. What they didn't expect was to so quickly and completely become enchanted with University Church. They find our music program to be outstanding.
I didn't ask why they've stayed just yet. I wanted the words to linger in our minds for a while.
I asked the couple to my left, who I know were members long ago under the founding minister and had drifted away, but had returned with renewed energy and commitment a few years ago, I asked them why they had returned.
Their response was similar in that they greatly love the music here and the friendships they cultivated. I know that their journey has also been extremely difficult as they are still coping with great loss. But each has confided to me that they find hope and comfort within our community. Each have given so much of their talents and time to our congregation and I sense they feel they are receiving much in return.
The final gentleman at my table shared how he and his wife first came to University Congregational Church. Back in the late 1990's, the Wichita Eagle had an excellent religion section and a very well-respected religion page editor. The paper had just done an article on what some of Wichita's religious leaders were reading and it turned out the this gentleman was reading the exact same book that our second senior minister had been reported to be reading. That was enough to pique his interest and he and his wife attended the very next Sunday and have never left.
Five human souls who found their way to our community. Each attracted to the message and mission of University Congregational in different ways. As my relationships with these folks grow, I'll inquire soon as to why they remain. I suspect their answers will be as varied and interesting as their modes of arrival and I can't wait to find them out.
Pax,
Paul
As we began our meal, I inquired of the person I didn't know so well how she and her family had happened to arrive to our church--how did they find their way to University Congregational?
She responded that her husband worked in the neighborhood and upon their return to her hometown of Wichita a couple of years ago, they decided to do some church shopping. Our church was an obvious place to start their journey and they anticipated that they would be looking for a church "home" for at least a while. What they didn't expect was to so quickly and completely become enchanted with University Church. They find our music program to be outstanding.
I didn't ask why they've stayed just yet. I wanted the words to linger in our minds for a while.
I asked the couple to my left, who I know were members long ago under the founding minister and had drifted away, but had returned with renewed energy and commitment a few years ago, I asked them why they had returned.
Their response was similar in that they greatly love the music here and the friendships they cultivated. I know that their journey has also been extremely difficult as they are still coping with great loss. But each has confided to me that they find hope and comfort within our community. Each have given so much of their talents and time to our congregation and I sense they feel they are receiving much in return.
The final gentleman at my table shared how he and his wife first came to University Congregational Church. Back in the late 1990's, the Wichita Eagle had an excellent religion section and a very well-respected religion page editor. The paper had just done an article on what some of Wichita's religious leaders were reading and it turned out the this gentleman was reading the exact same book that our second senior minister had been reported to be reading. That was enough to pique his interest and he and his wife attended the very next Sunday and have never left.
Five human souls who found their way to our community. Each attracted to the message and mission of University Congregational in different ways. As my relationships with these folks grow, I'll inquire soon as to why they remain. I suspect their answers will be as varied and interesting as their modes of arrival and I can't wait to find them out.
Pax,
Paul
Comments
Post a Comment