Visions and dreams

Nine members of our Vestry gathered with clergy this past weekend for our Vestry retreat.  We enjoyed fellowship and fun together, and read the incredibly thoughtful comments written by the congregation during sermon time a week before.  The Vestry was energized and heartened by the nearly universally glowing comments that reaffirmed a vision of St. Aidan's as a welcoming congregation, open to all wherever they may be on their spiritual journey.  Three main themes emerged that will likely guide the Vestry in the year ahead: how to better communicate the gifts that St. Aidan's offers to the community, how to continue deepening our spirituality, and new ways to deepen our outreach to the community.

(1) What would you like St. Aidan’s to be for you and our surrounding community?  How is St. Aidan’s living up to that vision?

-A kindly beating heart for our own and several local communities (scouts, preschool, music events, art events, play spaces, memorial ground, labyrinth, Silent Auction, Christmas trees).

-Sustain and grow good things already happening.  Strengthening our personal journeys and our journey as a community will allow us to do that.  The conversation about our gifts – feeding them, growing them and sharing them – seems like the organic process that will lead our work into the community.  St. A’s is doing a good job sending the message.  The Celtic service, the labyrinth, new sign – these are tangible things – they reach out physically closer to the streets of our community.  They let the community walk into (or tiptoe towards) something they need.

-A place for rest from the daily grind.  A place where I am filled on a weekly basis to do my ministry for the world.  A place where I can contribute my gifts for the good of St. Aidan’s and the community.  Over the years, St. A’s has done this for me.

-A trusted, open kind of home away from home with friends/family/community.  A place to enjoy a quiet moment, reflection, a community event, small or large groups.  Welcomed and not judged, always someone here to listen.  A safe but fun welcoming door.  St. A’s does an excellent job.  Thank you.

-A place where all are welcome and the community knows it.  It does this quietly – which I like – I think we have yet to fully realize the benefit of this approach.

-I think St. A’s is perfect.  I like the community we have – welcoming, loving, non-judgmental – and I like the opportunities that St. A’s fosters to make a difference in the community.

-A welcoming place to hear, learn and grow in the Gospel, that asks hard questions and challenges us to grow spiritually and in service to others.

-A place that welcomes those with doubts and questions, those turned off by organized religion and who are afraid church is not for them.  A place where we know there is nothing we can do to make God love us less and nothing we can do to make God love us more.

-A sanctuary, a retreat, a place for stillness, quiet, labyrinth walking, and peace.

-Be the welcoming community it is now and continue that effort.  St. A’s is a beacon.

-A church that continues to be a place where all people are accepted and loved.

-For me, I feel it helps complete me.  I guess if we just keep inviting others to join us we will be on the right path.

-I would like the community to feel that St. A’s is a place for everyone.  I do think St. A’s is a welcoming place.  There are lots of new faces in church.

-A place for contemplation of how I can be more like Jesus.

-A place where all are welcomed, regardless of very specific beliefs.  A place where young kids and children of all ages are comfortable and want to be.  St. A’s is living up to it.

-I would like it to be inclusive, and it mostly is.  But not perfectly.

-A home/center to return for spiritual, musical, emotional and intellectual nourishment and companionship, relaxation, humor, new ideas and directions. 

-How about a community outdoor yard sale with donation of anything left (or a part or all of proceeds), or rent tables.

-I really like St. A’s now. The one think I’d like to see more of is outreach, service – like VICHOP or other mission work – but I don’t know what form it should take.

-Welcoming to all.  Creative services rooted in tradition.  Non-judging – accepting all by their presence.

-I would like it to be a place where someone can show up and go on a journey to find God.  And while there are churches who don’t accept walk-ins, St. A’s does.  Which makes someone be able to find God.

-A spiritual center.  It is a journey and St. A’s is on the right path.

-More outreach to the local poor communities.

-A place for the community to find quiet and grounded people in grace.

-To continue to be a welcoming and inclusive ministry.  St. A’s lives up to this vision by being open-minded about differing views about God’s presence and connection to each one of us.

-A beacon to find and a light to shine.  “Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings.”

-I envision St. A’s as a welcoming community, and I have experienced it to be one for WASPS.  I would like us to reach out to those who, like the Samaritan woman, are outcasts from the wider community.

-A place to hear the world of the Lord and some insight into how it applies to our everyday lives.  It is living up with good sermons.  Also a place to feel community. It does this with the many events open to the community.

-I would like to have more local service opportunities to be involved with – ones that sponsored by St. A’s.

-St. A’s needs to portray their true identity to the community.  Most people don’t know all the wonderful things that go on here, and they just see it as a sleepy little church.

-I like our community outreach efforts.  Rising Hope, etc.  But I wish we could be stronger, more forceful advocates in Richmond and Capitol Hill. For example, what are we doing to encourage our legislators to accept Medicaid Expansion?

-A source of spiritual fulfillment – the strength of the spiritual ebbs and flows – both from St. A’s and from me – but generally you are doing a superb job.  For some in my family, St. A’s is for all the sociable, cultural, community aspects.  For me, it is the prayer and communion, so St. A’s has to be different things for different people

-Center for spiritual and maybe Celtic Christianity in this area.  Celtic service, spiritual listening group.

-Offer solace and comfort to those who are ill and lonely (outreach) both in our community (St. A’s/Fort Hunt/Mt Vernon) and elsewhere.

-A welcoming place, accepting and supporting everyone wherever they may be on their faith journey.  St. A’s is completely living up to that vision.  Well done!

-Inclusive – a place where all are accepted and can participate.  We do okay.  It does seem like the same people are given opportunities repeatedly.

-A source of religious education for children.  Not a source of guilt for adults.  A calming place, inclusive, for kids and adults.  Living up to vision – doing well.

-We already try very hard to include and invite our community to join us for events.  How much more can we do?  Perhaps I need to have the vision clarified, before asking for more.

-St. A’s already lives up to my vision of what a Christian parish should be for its members and the surrounding community.  St. A’s is a welcoming community and the love and support we receive enables us to reach out and be effective in the various ministries in which we are involved.

(2) How can St. Aidan’s better strengthen and encourage you for your work as God’s partner in the world?

-Just continue what you’re doing, teaching us Celtic spirituality which is so liberating and transforming, by revealing to us that we come closest to our true selves when we pour ourselves out in love for one another and in our ministries

-Sermons – these couldn’t be better!  Keep them coming!

-Music – choir needs help – additional musicians add a lot on special days.

-Just coming from the Lenten Retreat and a wonderful adult ed, these types of opportunity and discussion strengthen and encourage me.

-More meditation opportunities, labyrinth walks monthly, quiet days

-Keep services to an hour and start services on time, stop the chit chat of celebrants during the service, continue the interesting and thought-provoking sermons, and all the different ways you explore spirituality.

-St. A’s is doing a great job at this

-I already receive great strength and encouragement and support from St. A’s.  No other ideas.

-It does a pretty great job at that.

-More retreats.  Spiritual feeding.

-By fervent and devout worship both still and triumphant.  By service as well as witness.  By loving and giving.

-To continue to create opportunities for those in need in our community

-It’s doing well … keep it up.

-Develop stronger outreach communities.

-Continue to offer opportunities to discuss, question, and explore faith as a community.

-St. A’s has helped me want to find God.

-Continue to offer art, music and other projects, such as icon making, dramatic sermons, labyrinth walks.  Continue to offer special activities for major life cornerstones: baptism, confirmation, wedding renewal, death.

-The community interactions here at church help me, and I appreciate the encouragement to get involved in church activities and outreach.

-Offer roles to fill (work to do), people to welcome and trust and hang out with

-Engaging adult Ed that explores how to do this

-Make the readings relevant to our lives in today’s world.

-Continue to help people in need in the community such as homeless.

-Just keep loving us.

-St. A’s offers such diversity in ways to pray and participate.  I attended the retreat this past weekend and would love to see more of these.

-Blogs and special events (Christmas tree sales, Oktoberfest, etc.) are big steps in reaching out to the unchurched.  I would like to find more ways to reach out to those in our community who do not feel the presence of God in their lives.

-I can’t think of anything that would be better.

-Continue to offer ways that allow us to spiritually connect.  Shrine Mont, retreats, Oktoberfest, adult ed, church gatherings and dinner groups.

-Continue to encourage outreach to the community, continue to encourage and plan family/community events.  Just wanting/enjoying St. A’s environment encourages work as God’s partner.  All of the activities/events encourage this!

-Help grow the choir.  Continue variety of worship experiences and put more emphasis on little vigil during Holy Week – back in the church or chapel.

-Keep doing what you’re doing – feed me, love and reassure me, invite me to be and do something new.

 

-More intergenerational outreach to seniors (i.e. 50+).  Organize performing art evening quarterly.  Young and old in church.