Minister's Column
November 2011
I was told this day would come. I was told that our church would eventually grow enough that I wouldn’t know everyone by her or his first name. I was told that I would one day look around the congregation on a Sunday morning and realize that there are many I do not recognize. Each Sunday, as people greet me in the receiving line after the service, I often find myself saying to someone I don’t believe I’ve met, “Is this your first time here?” only to hear in response, “I’ve been coming for a while now.” When I’m at the grocery store, or picking up my daughter from school, I often meet people who say they know me from the church, echoing what one sixth grader recently said to me: “Hey, you’re the church guy. I go to your church!” I trust you know me well enough to know that I am enjoying how our congregation’s growth is taking on a life of its own, how people are telling their friends and posting about us on Facebook, how people are finding that our congregation is where they want to grow their souls. All I’ve ever wanted in ministry was to be part of a growing congregation, a congregation that welcomes newcomers, inviting them into a vibrant community that nurtures people of all ages and helps make the world a better place. Maybe that’s a lot to ask. But I feel like it’s happening and I couldn’t be happier!
Just this past week, I sat in Governor Branstad’s office, securing support for Project IOWA, a 21st century workforce development initiative that will see its first group of previously under-employed trainees begin classes at DMACC this January toward career-track employment. I would not be able to work on such an important initiative if not for our congregation’s commitment to AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy), an organization of 28 area congregations working together to build the common good. The same week, our congregation honored 27 long-time members and our long history as a liberal religious presence in Des Moines with a lovely service and reception, our middle-schoolers and their families visited St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as part of the “Neighboring Faiths” class, and our Coming of Age class shared a weekend-long retreat off site. A week later our Green Sanctuary team hosted a “Cool Congregations” workshop, sharing green ideas with other area congregations. The truth is that I could write pages about all the things happening in our church right now. If you ever want a snapshot of what we are doing, take a look at the executive report I prepare each month for the Board of Trustees [http://ucdsm.org/board-business]. It’s always a long list!
Even with all the exciting things we have going, I am aware that not knowing everyone in the congregation is a challenge for me, as I expect it is for many of you. I do hope if you are new, you’ll take the time to introduce yourself to me, or visit my Facebook page [http://www.facebook.com/revmark.stringer] and ask to be my friend. I always enjoy getting to know members and friends of our congregation, even as it takes me longer to do so than it used to!
Thanks for all that you do to help our church be the vibrant place it is. What a joy it is to serve in this ministry with you!
Would you like to have your child dedicated?
As part of the
November 20th services, we will have an opportunity to share in a ritual of dedication for some of the children in our church community. During this simple ceremony we will acknowledge the children’s given names, bless (or honor) them with the four elements, and declare our responsibility to them as parents and as a community. Contact me as soon as possible if wish to have your child dedicated or if you’d like to know more about the ceremony. The next opportunity this church year will be the
Christmas Eve 5:00pm family service.
See you in church!
Visit the Rev. Mark Stringer on his Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/RevMark.Stringer