A Message from Pastor Summer
I have been spending a great deal of time over the past several months thinking and praying about the mission of our congregation. As I thought and prayed, I was deeply interested in the congregational and community surveys. I read and considered all the comments that were made. In addition, I listened to the voices of the congregation from the December congregational meeting, the council retreat in January, and the Mission Task Force. What I discerned was a compelling vision of who we say we are and what we want, or better, what we are called to be. For me, the two intersect. Our mission is to be a community of grace.
At our best, we have been that community. What we have said as a congregation again and again is that there are three areas that define us. They are worship, outreach, and community. Worship has been and continues to be central to the life of Zion. Survey after survey lifted up worship as one of the key strengths and callings of Zion. Outreach has also been a hallmark of our congregation. We have a long history of social ministry and deep commitments to ongoing efforts such as Family Promise, Faith Kitchen, and HCMAP. We continue to find new ways to serve as we launch Feed My Starving Children this year. Finally, community has been at the heart of Zion. Relationships have been forged in the life of Zion that have provided care and support that have been deeply meaningful to people through their lives. That story stretches back over 300 years. Again, the surveys and conversations have made this clear. Through worship, outreach, and community, we have been that place of grace God intended.
On the other side of the coin, if, at our best, we have been a community of grace, we have also fallen short. It is clear from the surveys and conversations that we are very aware that we have not always succeeded at being a gracious place. Those failures weigh on us. We understand that we have been called by God to something more. How do we make sure everyone is included? How to we extend that word of invitation and welcome to everyone? How to we care for all the needs of people both within and without our congregation? This task is both challenging and exciting. For me, the vision of Zion being a community of grace is both an affirmation of who we are at our best and a call to who God wants us to be. As with any journey of faith, we are on the way, but we’re not there yet. With all my heart, I want us to be that community of grace. May God grant us the strength, wisdom, and heart to be such a community.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
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