RE-IMAGINING OUR CHURCH

The world is changing — rapidly — in some very disturbing ways — and also in some very exciting ways! The role of organized religion in our lives has changed dramatically over the last 50 years and continues to change. Nelson United Church and its predecessors have been vital parts of many people's lives and have made very valuable contributions to our community and the broader world community. A fundamental question we must periodically address is "What is this spiritual community of Nelson United Church called to be and to do over the next 10 to 15 years to continue to be a vital part of people's lives and of this community?"

Council has been wrestling with this question for several months and we are now asking you to join the process!

At the Council retreat in late November of last year, we tried to imagine what we would want Nelson United Church to be or be in the process of becoming three years from now. The answers were both hopeful and challenging!

Worship through which we are challenged and transformed; fed and inspired; feel nurtured and a deeper connection to one another; stories are shared from the heart; lives are engaged and affirmed; there's a freedom to let my tears flow.
A Gospel of Jesus that: speaks to all (is demystified); is meaningful to us and gives us hope; is relevant, forgiving and grace-filled; embodies his teaching; reflects a wider view of Jesus and how his spirit helps us live life in the 2010's; is meaningful to the wider community.
Adult spiritual formation through which: heart and mind are engaged; we growth in faith – heart and mind grounding faith; our faith is more grounded and we feel accepted; we become better disciples/people; informs and challenges us, there is a variety of experiences for spiritual growth; we are accepting of all and there is more participation.
Children's spiritual formation through which: they feel loved and valued; they have Jesus as an option; they have a sense of wonder, sense of hope wherever they go and a sense of caring (it starts early); Jesus is made relevant, affirmed and made into their own story.
Outreach through which: we boldly embody Jesus' teaching; there is more a sense of joy rather than duty; we connect personally to people, one-on-one, sharing who we are; more people become involved; we partner with others in mending the world.
A Church in which: all are welcomed, challenged and transformed — disciples are called and sent; there is more a sense of joy rather than duty; our contributions are gifts – not "have to's" – and reflect our strengths and gifts; a youth/family minister is engaged; and we walk in Jesus' way.
A building through which: people are nurtured in a variety of Christ-like ways; there is more openness and we share our sanctuary more; the Nelson community moves through it: and people don't have to spend as much time on its maintenance and upkeep.
A pastoral/lay relationship which: we serve in ministry together; both sides are nurtured and nobody experiences burnout; everyone is appreciated; is complementary, balanced and overlapping comfortably.

First, is this your image of what you would like Nelson United to be? Council is an important subgroup within the congregation but we need to ensure that whatever vision we adopt and then make action plans to achieve actually is what our congregation collectively wants!

This is where you come in! Council has asked that a Re-Imagining Team tackle the questions of what we believe our Nelson United Church should be in the future and how do we do we get there? This is an exciting opportunity to identify and savour what we do well; to engage in healthy and respectful discussions of the possible and the needed; to help lead the congregation in this discovery process and to arrive at collectively developed hopes, targets and processes that will define Nelson United in the coming years.

Does mapping our future in this way over the next 12 to 18 months intrigue you? Inspire you? Even worry you? If so, you have a place at the table waiting for you! David, Christine (when she returns), Pauline Daniel, Carol Prochaska and I have all said "Yes, this is important and I want to be at the table." Now we are looking to have a group of people that represent the rich diversity of our church community join us. We need dreamers, thinkers, skeptics, the young, the not so young, individuals and family members, long-term members and newcomers, etc., etc. to be part of this journey so that the outcomes truly reflect the congregation's vision and hopes for the future.

There will be an introductory retreat on Saturday, April 17^th here at the church from 9 am to 1 pm (with a catered lunch). Please come and learn more about what we hope to achieve, why and how — and help shape the process going forward. Those of us engaged so far have lots of ideas but we want the process to be developed and driven by this larger group — together we can have a stronger process with more valid and sustainable results. Speak to anyone of us in the coming weeks or let Lois in the church office know you are interested.

This is exciting, this will be challenging, this will be engaging and rewarding — and it is something we must do for all the people who will make up Nelson United Church in the coming years. We have a wonderful platform to build the NUC of tomorrow thanks to the wonderful efforts of today's congregation and all those who came before us! Let's create tomorrow together!

               —submitted by Norm Carruthers, Past Chair of Council