A Note From Father Jim
As we enter this Christmas season we enter a time of great opportunity as a parish. Yes, we are facing some significant challenges with the future of our building. We are faced with a multitude of questions ahead of us. But how we face the challenges ahead is up to us. I assure you that none of our building issues are a surprise to God.
This is a time to look not at our own resources, but at his unlimited resources. How can I say that this is a time of a great opportunity? Because it's a great opportunity for us to trust God and an opportunity for him to gloify himself in our midst. What am I saying here? It's going to be ok because God's got this.
I understand that his is an unusual Christmas message, but we are in an unusual time at Holy Trinity and it is important that we see our challenges from God's point of view and not our own. On that note I'd like to take a few minutes and talk about what our building is and what it isn't; why we are here; and how that relates to our building.
As you are aware the building is not the Church; we are the Church. Whether we worship in our Sanctuary, in a gym or in a home we are still the Church. Of course, the building is a great blessing from God – we are blessed to have a dedicated worship space to praise our God and Savior, but the building is not who we are.
We are not here for the building nor even is the building here for us. This is God's building and he placed us here for the community – he placed us here as a gift to the community and to present him to our neighbors. We are here to bless the community and the building is a wonderful tool to help us do that.
So exactly what is God's purpose for our church building in the community? First it is a signpost – a pointer to Plainville that God is here in their midst. In all the hate and evil and confusion around them there is a God who cares and offers the only solution to the worlds ills. The building presents a message to the city, "I AM is here. There is a God who cares about you and what you are going through." Our Sanctuary is also to be a launching point, a stepping stone into the world; a transition place where the love of God meets the turmoil of the world in the people who are sent from it.
Our church building is to be an outpost for the Kingdom of God. It is to be a place of safety and comfort from the troubles of the world; a place to meet God. It is a visible reminder to the world that God has not forgotten them; that he cares. Of course for the community to know this we must minister outside the building and demonstrate this truth. How else will they know that God loves them unless we tell them and show them?
Yes, we are indeed blessed with a beautiful building and God has great plans for us, the Church in Plainville. Let's use the building for his glory and to reach out into our community. That is why we are here.
Please join me in praying for discernment for myself and the vestry and for his will to be accomplished in the city of Plainville.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas season and a holy and blessed 2019,
Fr. Jim