MAY 2017 First Churches of Northampton, UCC/ABC
PASTOR’S PAGE Take a good look at this butterfly, with wings formed in its chrysalis. This is much like us, today, at First Churches. We are close to emerging time. In five weeks, we will hold our Annual Meeting on June 11, and we will be voting to move into a new church organization plan. Five weeks! Yes, we have been at this process for nearly two years, creating a church vision statement, an organizational plan and thinking about our future. And we have been growing, serving, ministering and changing all FAITH EMERGING along the way. We are not a caterpillar, nor just a cocoon full of promise, those wings are ready to fly! This is an important time and several things need to happen along the way. Just like the butterfly, we need to emerge in the right timing and the right way. How does the butterfly know it is time? The simplest answer is that when they can push their wings through the membrane of the cocoon, they are ready. This chrysalis is not just going to dry up and fall away and let the butterfly free. Pushing to get out is part of the process of strengthening wings for flying. The struggle is preparation! This is my challenge to all of us together as we near the final stages of our emerging to the next phase of church life. We have to push through the final plans and details, break out of the Venn diagrams and blueprints, and get these wings out of the planning cocoon so they can help us fly! So what needs to happen? Here is the outline of next steps: • We are forming new teams to fill out our three ministries - Administrative, Inward and Outward. Many of you have already expressed interest and we will have options available each week after church to see where your gifts will fit in. The major key here is to have a solid Administrative Team in place, that will function much like a non-profit board, guiding and overseeing all of our resources - our finances, facility, and personnel. Please prayerfully consider where you feel called to serve, and call us if you have questions. • On Sunday, May 7, we will share the asking budget and begin Stewardship season. Butterflies need nectar to make the next stage of the journey and churches need resources. The budget presentation is important for all participants and members, because budgets contain our hopes and values. • On Wednesday night, May 17 at 7:00 PM, we will host a forum with Q & A about the new church organization. It is critical we all understand what we are voting on, and the goals and purposes of each team in our new structure. This will be a time to iron out the kinks, then we will have a second opportunity after church on May 21 to give everyone a chance to review and offer feedback. • Finally, pray and encourage one another. This change is exciting and hopeful, and it is still change! As with the best of changes, there is anxiety, planning, hard work and fatigue. It is especially felt by staff and the people currently on standing committees who have been holding it all together. So lets get together and push. We can do this! The five week countdown to flight begins now! Pastor Todd