From Don's Desk
Recently I completed eight neighborhood meetings, and I thought it
would be good to share some of what I think I have learned.
Firstly, I want to express my appreciation to the hosts and hostesses:
Gay and Bill Blundell, Stevely and Bob Anderson, Sue and Frank Johnson,
Anne and John Hubbard, Barbara Dallmann, Marty and Gene Durrett and
Huntley and Don Lewis. Thank you for you hospitality.
Seventy of us attended these meetings, not counting myself and Barbara
(who came to six of the eight). That represents 64% of our official
current membership, and, even more amazing, that is 123% of our average
Sunday attendance. That=s terrific! Pat yourselves on the back.
AHow lovely is Thy dwelling place@ (The Hymnal # 517) I recorded 63
responses to the question: AWhen did you become part of St.
Paul=s and why did you identify with this community of believers? A
9 (14%) became part of St.
Paul=s more than 20 years ago.
26 (41%) identified with
St. Paul=s between 10 and 20 years ago.
17 (30%) have been at
St. Paul=s between 5 and 9 years.
11 (17%) have been part of
the St. Paul=s family less than 5 years
The most frequent responses to Awhy@ were: St. Paul=s is a warm,
friendly, welcoming congregation, and the (BCP) liturgy, the worship
service. 25 (40%) were lifelong or nearly lifelong Episcopalians.
AI sing a song of the saints of God@ (The Hymnal # 293) The
responses to the question: AName one or two people other than clergy
who personify St. Paul=s to you, who embody the best of St. Paul=s,@
were extraordinary. In addition to several saints who are now in glory
and a few who have moved or are now home-bound, 35 different saints
were mentioned, a remarkable 32% of our membership and an even more
remarkable 61% of our average Sunday attendance! I would call that
wonderful documentation of what, in response to the next question,
someone called the Adedication of our core members.@
AThe love of Christ proclaim@ (The Hymnal # 473) The third question
asked what St. Paul=s greatest strength(s) is (are). The overwhelming
response was Athe people.@ Over and over I heard words like caring,
compassionate, loving, kind, embracing, inclusive, friendly, warm,
welcoming and generous, and phrases like Athe people make you feel
loved,@ and Athe people make you feel good,@ and Athey=ll do anything
for you,@ and Athere is a feeling of goodness.@ This thought was
expressed in other ways: there is a closeness and concern for one
another, and, we help each other and take care of one another.
The next most frequently mentioned strength of St. Paul=s was our
service and outreach in the community and beyond. AWe are small but
mighty.@ AWe do a lot.@
I would suggest both of the above strengths are a function of
observations like Awe live our faith@ and Awe walk the walk.@
The next most frequently mentioned strength was that we have no
factions, cliques, conflict, negativity. We like each other; we love
each other; we trust each other; we support each other. We are
non-judgmental, open-minded, not torn apart by diverse opinions. As one
of us put it very well, AWe are so focused on the central things that
we don=t let ourselves get distracted by less important things.@
I would be remiss, if I did not also mention two other strengths that
were mentioned several times, namely, our (BCP) liturgy and worship
service, and our building, our physical plant, and the view.
ACome, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,@ The Hymnal # 503) The fourth
question asked: AWhat would you change at St. Paul=s, if you could?@
The most frequent response was some variation on the desire that our
congregation grow, that we attract more people, especially younger
families and children. Several of us feel St. Paul=s is Athe best kept
secret in town@ and would like to find ways to make St. Paul=s more
visible in our community.
Quite a few specific worship-related suggestions were made (some of
which were mutually contradictory). Several had to do with the music in
our worship (some would like more contemporary and/or Apraise@ music)
and several had to do with the single service (some would like it more
often).
It should also be noted, however, that more than a few of us said, in
effect, there is nothing they would like to change at St. Paul=s.
Specifically, more than a few of us indicated they would be reluctant
to make major changes (I think in reference to our worship services) to
attract new (younger) people. Some of us feel we should Abe who we
are,@ and would not be willing Ato sacrifice what makes us
Episcopalian@ (again referring to The Book of Common Prayer liturgy).
There were a lot of other suggestions, including a long-range plan for
property maintenance, a business plan for
congregation and programs and activities for children.
There=s more than enough here for me (and, I hope, for you also) to
chew on. This was a very good experience for me and I hope also for
those who participated. This is an extraordinary parish. I hope you
know you are blessed to be part of it. I know I am.
Don
Note: Some of the remarks enclosed in quotation marks above are
paraphrases or Asense quotes@ and not word for word quotations.