God is Still Snowing

Last Sunday I invited the congregation to think of themselves as Imagineers and Evangelists, coming up with new ideas to share the Good News of the gospel and to help us live out our faith in exciting new ways. One of our members, Hazel Ransom, came up with the idea of snow painting, and so was born the idea of God is Still Snowing Sunday. Our congregation is a Still Speaking church, a congregation that welcomes people regardless of who they are or where they are on life's journey. We believe that people should not place a period where God has placed a comma--in other words, that human beings are continuing to reach fresh insights about the God we meet through Jesus Christ. It was in that spirit that we choose to take a fresh look at snow, with a snow-related sermon and snow-themed refreshments. After church the young and young-at-heart members went outside to sculpt and paint the snow.

We can't stop the snow but we can enjoy it!

Imagineers and Evangelists

On Sunday, January 31, I challenged the congregation to be Imagineers and Evangelists. The term Imagineering was coined in the 1940s by Alcoa to describe its blending of imagination and engineering. Anyone can be an Imagineer, coming up with fresh ideas and new ways to reach out to others. Evangelists are those who share the Good News of the gospel of Christ. During the month of February I will be spending one half of a workday each week doing work related to Imagineering and Evangelism.

During the first week of February, I spent my Imagineering time learning about the demographics of the area our church served through the website http://www.missioninsite.com/. The Connecticut Conference of the UCC graciously paid for each member congregation to receive reports about our area. We will be better prepared to serve the needs of our area because of our information about who lives here and what values they embrace.