“LISTENING SESSIONS”

For the past three Sundays, the Session has sponsored “Listening Sessions” so the congregation can express their thoughts and feelings in response to the Little Light House Board’s inquiry about buying our “corner.”  The first week’s list was in the July 12 Shield.  What follows is the list from July 16 and 23:

What are our greatest opportunities (hopes)?

-    If we stay?  New equipment for older kids; generate income to improve staff salaries and improve facilities; maintain identity; grow and become more viable; start contemporary services; stay together in this location; re-energize; grow and find new ways to get people to join; find way to get rid of bugs; turn large room into money-earning venture.

-     If we move?  Better mind-set for new neighborhood; kids could bring parents; new budget could emphasize mission instead of facility maintenance; maybe more classrooms; re-energize; redesign for current needs; cheaper to operate; no bugs; new building could better meet our needs.

-     If we merge?  Blended “family;” find congregation to join us to continue here or find a new building; re-energize; cheaper to operate; possibility of synergy; more new friends with whom to do things.

What are our greatest concerns?

-     If we stay?  Continuing cost of upkeep; bugs; deteriorating condition of building; debt; viability – if we don’t grow, will we eventually die?

-     If we move?  Could we stay together as a congregation?  How much would it cost?  How do we find our way around a new place?  Some won’t go with us; Debt; Would new building be functional?  Would our staff go with us?  Would our congregation split apart?  Relationships, memories, etc. would be lost; If we can’t maintain our identity, should we dissolve and let people go where they want to go (perhaps closer to their homes)?

-     If we merge?  Not interested in a merger – would endanger our staff; would create an “us versus them” situation; might not be able to have the same activities; debt; losing our identity; what would happen to proceeds of property sale?  Would our staff keep their jobs?  Would “powerful people” in our congregation lose their power?  Not interested in merger, because we could lose our staff, our members, and our connections with people.

Where is God in all of this?

-     God is everywhere – no matter where we are, God will be there; the Little Light House mission is God’s purpose; God would approve of our mission to the Light House mission; all things don’t come in a big box – some good things come in small packages, too!  God places stumbling blocks in front of us all the time; it’s great to look at our position and see where we are heading; here is an opportunity to focus on our ministry and staff instead of building maintenance – God is telling us to make a decision!  God is in the people — not the building; God is moving us out of our ennui (listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from boredom); God changes our perspective – changes our “camera lens”; God will make a way where there seems to be no way! This is a wake-up-call to action; God has nothing to do with location (interpreted as ‘God is more interested in what we do than where we are located); God is asking us to evangelize and tithe.

What is God asking us to do?

-     Think bigger; include more people; think about Him and the Church as His rather than ours; think about our own outreach to this neighborhood (Meals on Wheels, feeding the homeless; partnership with Waite Phillips, Early Learning Center, Al-Anon)

We will keep you informed as events unfold.  Hopefully, some of our questions can be answered soon.  Thank you for your excellent participation in the discussions.  If you have been unable to attend, but would like your thoughts and feelings recorded, please send them to the Church Office.