Pastor’s Ponderings

Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.
~Psalm 139:4

The single biggest problem in communication
is the illusion that it has taken place.
~George Bernard Shaw

Communication is so important! How could we ever live together in
families, work cooperatively, get anything done, and show our love and emotions, if we couldn’t express ourselves and be understood?
In a lovely psalm of being known by God, the Psalmist says God even
knows what we’ll say before we say it.

Unfortunately that’s not the case of us humans for one another!

Far more true is the quote from Bernard Shaw. How many times have you shared with your friend, spouse, or child something that has happened, only to hear them say later, “You never told me that!”?

All too frequently in the church we put announcements in the bulletin and in the newsletter, share during worship, even send out a special email regarding an upcoming event, then have someone indignantly proclaim: “I didn’t know that was happening!”

One of the difficulties with communications today is the sheer amount of information bombarding us. We’re overloaded. It is hard to take it all in.

Experts say that a message has to be given 10-12 times through a variety of means before it penetrates our consciousness. It’s no wonder things get missed!

Despite all that, please keep making the effort!

This wonderful congregation has so many worthwhile activities taking place and we extend our building to many outside groups as well.

That makes good communication — rather than operating in ‘siloes’ or assuming others’ know (or don’t need to know) — is really very important.

In church scheduling alone, considerate, proactive communication helps to avoid double booking and to keep everyone in the loop.

Before you announce an event, tell your group when your next meeting is, etc., please check with Li (Lisa Roth, our new church administrator) to make sure nothing else is on the calendar for the space and time you want.

Then keep Li in the loop for announcements, newsletter articles, and the website so the communications extend to the wider community.

Again, the more ways we can spread the word, the better!

God is doing good things in and among us. Let’s get the word out!

Grace and Peace,

Lisa

What else is in this edition of The Forecaster?

• Pentecost is coming right up (June 9th) — check out ideas for getting ready for the Pentecost service;
• FCC community goes to the baseball park (June 24th) — get the details (download below);
• The Profile Committee — part of the Transition process — had its initial meeting on Thursday evening, May 30th. Tom Brucker is the Profile Committee chairman. Learn more in the full edition (link below);
• The UCC annual meeting update (and who represented FCC);
• Academic Achievement Awards — applications available;
• Mark Your Calendar (particularly for August’s annual events) — Veterans for Peace at FCC (August 9th); FCC’s Back-to-School Ice Cream Social (August 29th); and FCC’s Rally Day (September 8th).

This and more … read the full newsletter via the link below.

Read / download the full June Forecaster.

Featured Image Credit: The Archangel Gabriel (detail), c. 1430, by Masolino da Panicale. The Archangel Gabriel has been known as the Communicator!