See I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19

For the last several decades a great deal has been written about the loss of members in mainline congregations. Studies abound and data is available from about every perspective you can imagine. One study reports that an interesting aspect of the loss is that many folk are leaving the mainline church and going nowhere. That is, they are not leaving to go to non-denominational churches or mega churches, they are simply leaving and going nowhere.

The reports, statistics and data are certainly worth noting. And while it might be tempting to dig deep to try to pinpoint the reasons, my guess is that the answers are more complicated than we might ever imagine. I wonder if one of our problems is that we are asking the wrong questions.

Last fall we gathered in members’ homes to talk about the mission and ministry of our congregation. We called it Covenant Dreamin’, and the musings from  these short visits tell the story of what we have been about for the last 60 years and what we are hoping for in the years to come.

There is a lot going on here at 670 East Meadow Drive. We seem to be doing well at gathering on a regular basis so that we might be nourished and fed. We are good at nurturing and encouraging one another. We are good at reaching out and sharing with others in our community and God’s world. Someone said that as a congregation we work well together. I would add, Thanks be to God!

As I left these meetings with positive energy and gratitude for a time of reflection and dialogue, I realized that we had only just begun. And this is not the first beginning. For almost 60 years we have come back to this point seeking to discern God’s will for our congregation. This never-ending task can be daunting, but it can also be energizing when undertaken with prayer and expectation.

As a congregation we know that God has plans for us. As God’s people we trust that God will see us through good times as well as times that are not so good. Perhaps our greatest challenge as we live out our life together is to stop along the way from time to time and ask good questions. What’s next? What new thing have you in mind, O God?

As I thought about questions that I would like for you to ponder, I came up with a few. I encourage you to call or email or write me with your wisdom. I am eager to hear from you. My hope is that you will add a few more good questions as well.

What do you hope for as you think about this congregation? Name one goal that you would like to see us achieve in the next 5-10 years. If we could reach a particular demographic in Palo Alto, what would it be? How would you like to participate in and support the life of this congregation?

Serving Christ Together,

Margaret