Christine’s Message
April/May 2010
A blessed Easter season to all,
Jesus is the resurrection! Jesus continues to call all of us to new life in him. What does that mean? David Brooks, in an article from the New York Times, states that: “besides all the problems, America’s future is exceedingly bright. Over the next 40 years, demographers estimate that the U.S. population will surge by an additional 100 million people, to 400 million over all. The population will be enterprising and relatively young. In 2050, only a quarter will be over 60, compared with 31 percent in China and 41 percent in Japan. In his book, The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050” uber-geographer, Joel Kotkin sketches out how this growth will change the national landscape. Extrapolating from current trends, he describes an archipelago of vibrant suburban town centers, villages and urban cores.”
How do we imagine and translate all these trends for the church? Paul Lebens-Englund poses that “as the church will need to be as ready to learn as we are to teach.” St. Paul’s has been hearing a lot about “Missional Renaissance” and small group development, about people development instead of program development. We are the church wherever we are interacting-at work, bible study, school, community functions, food pantry, or outreach. St Paul’s has already been moving in this direction.
Some of the tough questions ahead are: “How do we transform our community?”, “How do we turn members into missionaries?”, ”How do we develop followers of Jesus?”, “How do we prepare for the future?” We have lots to talk about – possibly a congregational group?
St. Paul’s community continues to be a welcoming haven, to enrich all people in body, mind and spirit, especially in the way you listen to and care for each other, in your outreach endeavors and in your strong faith in God and your willingness to respond to Jesus’ call with “Okay, I am not sure, but count me in.”
Thank you and bless you for all you already do,
Rev. Christine Soule
Community Priest
