WAIT FOR IT? NO—GO FOR IT!

       You may remember that I spoke about the "Transitional Congregation" [i.e. average Sunday attendance of 200-240] at our Annual Meeting. Or, perhaps you read about it in the excerpts from my written Rector's Report which were printed in the last newsletter. Either way, there has been a
little confusion over how all of this will affect us at All Saints', both now and for the near future.
       My Rector's Report stated "It is strongly recommended that a congregation in thistransitional size focus on one single goal—to get to the 240 average Sunday attendance point." The reason behind this recommendation is that studies show that once that level is reached, a transitional congregation is able to overcome the vicious-circle inertia it has been experiencing and resume its
strong momentum for growth. At that point, a church can begin to realize more fully a bright future.That attendance goal will indeed be our focus for parish program and administration for a while.However, several of you asked me about the words "one single goal, " being concerned with the implication that everything else will come to a virtual standstill or will fade into the background until we reach that goal. As I myself re-read my Report, I can easily see how it could seem that I was saying, essentially, that we can't do anything else until our Sunday attendance averages 240 and that all new efforts would be about number-crunching. Not so! In fact, quite to the contrary...
       It is precisely because we need to increase our average attendance that we must now do everything possible to grow and improve our present programs. It is precisely because All Saints' will have to grow by attracting and retaining new communicants that we must now do everything we can to make our present facilities the best, the most attractive, and the most functional they can be.
Until now, I have been very reluctant to put money into our current program-space (Parish Hall, Christian Education wing, meeting rooms, and offices). It seemed to me that such would not be the best use of our scarce funds since (a) whatever we do wouldn't make that much difference to address the problem, and (b) we all know that we have to move into a major building-campaign in the immediate future, replacing what we only recently had "improved." Knowing now about the transitional congregation, and the challenges we face in order to move out of this very difficult phase, I have changed my mind and am convinced that the way ahead is not so much a mind-set that's about looking toward the future, but rather, to give it all we've got right now! We will do this for each other now, so as to support and nurture each other's Christian lives in the most fulfilling ways, and we will do this for our visitors and newcomers now, so as to welcome, receive, and minister to them as fully and as ably as possible. These things have always been at the forefront of the Church's mission of evangelism, service, and pastoral care. Re-committing now to giving our all will—as the inevitable result-take us where we want and need to go.
       Far from being about "marking time" until a goal is reached, our task now is about making tracks in order to get there! Far from idling in gear, waiting for something to happen, we're going to push the burners and make it happen! We're going to fix it, replace it, re-decorate it, re-furnish it, re-organize it: whatever it takes. This will require the best in all of us and we'll need everyone to step up! To parents: get your children to Sunday School and EYC - we can make things better only together! To all adults: participate in any of our several Christian education offerings and support the ministries of our committees and small groups. To "every-now-and-then members:" you are missed and you are needed—get involved! To all who are baptized into the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ: come to worship every week. This is where you will not only encounter the Risen Christ, but also be healed and empowered by Him. And this is how All Saints' will be empowered to know and to proclaim-in unison with our Lord-THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST, AMONG YOU [Luke 17:21]. Now. 

Shannon⁺