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May 12, 2010
Welcom Presbyters!
One year has
passed since we started the whole new journey. It was a time all of us demonstrated
creativities, patience, passion and integrity as followers of Jesus Christ.
Some of us worked hard to manage the works of the Presbytery. Others worked
hard in the midst of the difficulties to survive and sustain God’s mission
within the congregation. All of us strived to search for the answer to the
questions of, what it means to say that “we are together” in ministry. It was
time of challenging to do the work differently or with a question of “why”. I
am glad that we have never settled with “because we used to do it.” This is the
sign that shows the potential of our future church with new life. Through this,
we affirm Jesus’ ministry that teaches us
the value of transformation rather than transposition.
Another great
potential we have is that we want to be with each other, especially, in times
of many difficulties. Most of the congregation around us experiences the issue
of viability and reflect on the past journey, what we can do better to solve
present problems by doing research successful examples around us. We learn that
without having a future picture of social structure and lifestyle of people of
5 or 10 years after, our plan can be outdated when it is launching. This
involves getting together of many brains, perspectives, experiences and, most
of all, inspiration of the Spirit’s guidance. We can make it happen by starting
two three working together. I hope Presbytery gathering can provide this
gathering.
In our Presbytery,
we count flexibility as an important element that we need to value. At the May
plenary meeting we give more time for business. We celebrate 85th Anniversary
of The United Church of Canada. It is a
celebration of God’s presence throughout our faithjourney
as the body of Christ. It is also a time of affirming that we are God’s people.
Each one of us, as well as our forerunners, is part of our church’s history,
part of the face of the church and the body of Christ that adds God’s beauty
into the whole creation.
In our celebration, we want to celebrate
not success or production but growth and nurturing. Furthermore, we look for
not just growth but transformation. This needs practice to work together of the
people participated in old system and new. It is time we, first of all, hear
our inner voice that gives us confidence in our sharing and listening. We don’t
have to rush ourselves into work. We have to think about the quality of our
faith journey. Do we have time to enjoy sunset? When did you have last enjoyed
glorious sunrise? What is it like the emerging hope of God in our future
ministry? Can we visualize or imaging in our hearts?
In our celebration, we are forming the
new face and body of the Presbytery. Each one of you forms the part of this
face and body. Presbytery meeting is a celebration. As we understand the
worship as celebration of God’s presence, our presbytery meeting is a
celebration of past, present and future. What would you bring to the Presbytery
plenary meeting to share and what would you take back through attentive
listening to the stories of pain and joy around and in us? I appreciate the
passionate participation of the Presbyters in the midst of uncertainties. I
hope in our new year, learn together what it means to learn through mistakes by
challenges and risk takings of venturing into God’s mission of whole new
creation.
Blessings,
John Lee
Chair, Toronto Southeast Presbytery, Toronto
Conference, The United Church of Canada
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