Renewal Proposal

Vision Forums and the Renewal Proposal

Renewal ProposalThank you to everyone who participated in last Sunday’s Vision Forum 1, with special gratitude to Carolyn Shepard for her excellent leadership.  We were able to center ourselves as we asked for God’s guidance in all that we do but particularly in this time of discernment.  I doubt there is anything we do here that is more important than praying for God’s guidance.  There was a time for questions of clarification.  A number of good and important questions were raised as we worked to understand the evolution of, the rationale for and the possibilities and challenges represented in the Renewal Proposal.  Then we went around the room, giving everyone present the opportunity to share their current thoughts and feelings about the Proposal.  At the end, we shared some written and verbal comments from people who could not make Sunday’s meeting and we closed again with prayer.

It was gratifying to see how seriously our congregation is taking the work of its Task Team and Council.  I also appreciated the calm, respectful and thoughtful tone of the meeting.  There is always risk in an innovative proposal; there is no way to make that go away.  It is natural to approach risk and what is unknown with a certain amount of anxiety.  I think all of us feel some of that.  I know I do.  It is important that we move into the future with open eyes, minds and hearts, with courage and with trust in our desire to follow God’s leading.  You will see below an invitation to an additional meeting on Friday for those who could not be there Sunday in hopes we can pass on some of what was shared Sunday and ensure that we hear from everyone who wants to contribute to the process.

This Sunday, in Vision Fourm 2,  we will have the opportunity to meet with Marie, to get to know her better, to hear her hopes and dreams for Christ’s church in general and ours in particular, to ask her questions and for her to ask us questions.  I am excited for you to have some experience of Marie’s grace, skill and potentiality for leading us.

Worship will focus on the familiar story of Nicodemus and Jesus.  For many of us John 3:16 was among the first Bible verses we ever learned.  But there is more to this tale that one overused and misused verse.  I am particularly interested in the age disparity between the old teacher and the young.  What’s to be done when the old one is challenged to see and do things differently?  Jesus isn’t altogether respectful of Nicodemus, who is slow to grasp things.  But I think Nicodemus leaves that encounter transformed.  “Not when I’m old.”  Don’t be so sure about that.

See you Sunday at 10 AM for worship and Sunday School.  Bring someone along to share the Lenten Journey with you.

God grant us more light, more love, more life as we journey together.
Pastor Rick

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We are a progressive Baptist Church affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA. We have been in Palo Alto since 1893. We celebrate our Baptist heritage. We affirm the historic Baptist tenets of: Bible Freedom, Soul Freedom, Church Freedom, Religious Freedom

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