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Telling Our Story
10/22/2009
By Hart, Robert
What is the story of Christ Church, Dearborn? Like any other community that's been around for a long time and pulled together to accomplish the mission of God, we have a story to tell. A lot depends though on what we choose to tell and how we envision our present and future. Like any other Episcopal parish we could tell a tale of those who didn't like the new Prayer Book, changes in the Hymnal 1982, or the issues surrounding human sexuality. No doubt, that's a part of our story. But there is a very creative and exciting story that waits to be told about this parish church.
Diana Butler Bass in her book, The Practicing Congregation, writes: "What if the story was about imaginative congregations reaching back to their native stories, drawing out practices known to their ancestors, and finding new ways of being faithful in a fragmented, detraditionalized world? What difference would that story make inyour own ministry, your congregation, in your diocese...?" It makes a difference what story we tell and how we tell it. It makes a difference to our own sense of confidence and effectiveness. And it makes a difference to those who are seeking a place to call their spiritual home.
As I participated in the benefit concert for the Detroit Coalition for Temporary Shelters, I realized what a concerted effort of organization and volunteer hours had gone into making that such an entertaining and diverse means of raising money for those in our area who are homeless. It was such a great event and it happened without fanfare or fuss. Christ Church has a story to tell about how its commited members take ownership of their common life. Whether its planning for youth ministry or dealing with the finances, people step forward and work together.
In the coming weeks the parishioners of Christ Church will participate in a process of strategic planning and envisioning our future. We call this the Charette process. This is our opportunity to recall our "native stories" and draw on the Christian practices that have nourished us. It is an occasion when we can brainstorm a bit and find new ways to an effective witness in the Dearborn area. In recalling our story we can begin to reenvision our story. Be a part of telling the story of God which is the story of Christ Church, Dearborn.
Bob Hart, Interim Rector
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