What a two-week period it’s been. On Monday, June 11, I gave a PowerPoint presentation to the board of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (AFP) group. The conference was held at Camp St. Christopher and I was excited because I have used the AFP journal of prayer now for 15 years. Then on Wednesday June 13 we began our staff retreat. We met for 8 hours as a staff to pray, reflect back, look at what is, and dream for 2012-2013. On Thursday the entire staff and various members of St. Michael’s attended the Alpha Mobilize National Conference at St. Andrew’s Church, Mt. Pleasant. People gathered from all over the country to look at how growing churches mobilize. On Thursday I gave a preview to my talk on Friday, and showed a video we had made about how to Mobilize a traditional church like St. Michael’s. On Friday, we gathered for day two of the conference and I presented my PowerPoint talk on the mobilization of a traditional church.
Brenda Georgi our Chief of Administration helped me as I interviewed her for a portion of my talk. Then that afternoon Capers Barr and I gave a testimony about Alpha in the Workplace. It was a wonderful two days of pouring out and being poured into.
Friday night we began the Vestry retreat at the Rectory. We began with dinner, followed by a talk on mobilization and ended the night with prayer.
Saturday, June 17 we met again as a vestry team in the Narthex. We met in the Narthex (did you know Narthex means funnel?) because that’s where they funnel in to worship. For many their spiritual journey begins right there in the Narthex. We divided the Vestry into three teams as we dreamed about our next year together. For the rest of the retreat, we gathered at the altar and I listened as vestry members communicated to me their hopes and dreams for this great place. We ended with communion at the altar rail. It was a sweet and very productive time together. Sunday was busy with three beautiful baptisms, and the commissioning of our new vestry members.
Then, Monday June 18, and armed with the dreams of the vestry, we met one more time as a staff to complete our retreat.
What a week it was! Why do we retreat? Why do all of this? In short, it’s what Jesus did, in fact he even said it’s a commandment (remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy). But also, we like Jesus are to work out of our rest, instead of resting from our work. So, our ministry this fall will be a result of the rest from our time together. One more note, what a joy it is to lead such a great vestry and staff. We have beautiful unity and strength in both leadership teams. The Vestry as you know serve with me as the vision bearers, as well as resourcing the vision. The staff serves to help implement that vision through the congregation. Again we are so blessed to be a church on the move through the mobilizing power of the Holy Spirit.
~ The Rector