From time to time, parishioners raise the question about how are we, a little parish, going to be able to finance building the church and a new parish life center. For some reason the question of money always rises to the top, like oil on water, when decisions are made to strengthen our life together by making necessary changes to our facilities thus allowing more people to enjoy fellowship, creating space for more outreach opportunities, providing sacred space for our children's experience of christian formation, etc.
Yet, it seems to me that the financial issue is minor and one that will take care of itself, if we would only commit ourselves to do the following:
1) Affirming the parish as a place of hospitality for all people;
2) Inviting newcomers into the very heart of our life together;
3) Participating frequently in the eucharistic meal;
4) Refusing to allow conflict to move underground;
5) Learning to speak the truth in love;
6) Being prayerful;
7) Learning to follow, and not to lead, becoming a disciple;
8) Celebrating the children of our parish;
9) Living a life of gratitude;
10) Serving others;
11) Becoming involved in a servant ministry; focusing one's energies
on only one ministry;
12) Engaging in adult education, bible study, small groups.
As we embrace these principle in our lives as a faith community, our financial worries will go away; for Christ will be leading us into the future.
Reflections of a parish priest
These reflections are offered to you, dear reader, for the nourishment of your soul and spirit in this time of political, religious, and cultural confusion. It remains to be known what topics will be covered in this missive, but I am hopeful that whatever comes forth from my hand or the reader's will inspire and aid you on your journey to the Cross.
1 comment:
Growth in the visual sense, in the tactile, material sense, I think will be a result of the more important growth of us as a church, as the body of Christ. Our minds, our physical bodies need to be involved in doing the work of Christ in the world, in our community and then the tactile material building will come.
Important questions for each of us to ask ourselves are "What am I doing to promote healthy growth of our communal life in Christ?" "What am I doing to make my parish community vital and a focal point of MY life?"
We each only have 24 hours a day. We each are busy every day but each of us chooses each day HOW we're busy and WHAT we are busy about. Are we busy with the living of our life in Christ? If we are then ALL good things, like building, will follow.
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