Thank you for your prayers during our mini board retreat last Sunday. We talked about what it means to be Park Place. We looked at how we keep the Momentum in our Mission...and learned it was through Certainty...that we create Certainty through visualization. We then moved into an exercise looking at We Know We’re Successful When….. Some of the answers were….when we have people who want to be involved without having to beg...There’s joy...People talk about what’s happening...We support one another…..Kids giggling in church….
We also looked at what kind of church we are…. Overwhelmingly the answer was...we are Quirky...Unique...Diverse...Family….We embrace Women Clergy….and we are Open….pressed further...open to whom? All people...we say ‘All Are Welcome’ on our sign….who is All?
Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, went into great detail when they stated All Are Welcome: ...Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey of faith, know that you are most welcome here, to receive God’s goodness, mercy and love. When we say you are welcome we really mean it….We extend a loving welcome to those who are single, married, divorced or widowed; those who are gay, queer, confused, or straight; those who are rich, comfortable, or experiencing financial hardship. We welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers. We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or quietly hum. We welcome those of all gender identities, ethnicities, races, political affiliations, immigration status, and primary languages….. and their statement goes on quite a while… This is Certainty and Clarity.
Our Board imagines ministry to be successful when all are welcome and living and giving their best in the service to God….More to come….
