I hope you are all well and staying safe in the recent storms.
Just below, you can open/view/download the August Forecaster edition. I had some extra space in this issue so I included an “All Around the Community” section to give you a taste of upcoming events.
Our Congregational Conversation on 9/22 and a follow-up conversation at Council two weeks later has had me thinking more about what it means to be a “neighborhood church.”
To me that has two connotations.
Our thoughts first go to being connected with our neighbors within walking distance from the building.
Ideally our involvement would “not be for the neighborhood, but with the neighborhood” as Clare Price said on the 22nd.
We already have the Ice Cream Social, the Rummage Sale, food bags for STAP at Thanksgiving, and the Angel Tree at Christmas.
There are two negative thoughts, though, that make us hesitant to go further with this: a lack of people resources and how we define “success”.
We are few in number and the numbers we have are highly involved. We don’t know if we have the energy to take on more.
There is also this notion that our engagement with the neighborhood is a “success” only when our neighbors attend worship on Sunday mornings and become members.
Friends, increased membership is not the goal of outreach!
Showing love to our neighborswith no benefit to ourselves is the purpose. They may or may not want to worship with us. They may belong to other churches already.
So growing our membership to those we partner with shouldn’t be a consideration.
Inviting friends, BU and SUNY Broome students, and the greater community in general to help us do new projects in the neighborhood gives others a way to serve.
In doing so, they may like what they see happening here at FCC and want to join in other ways.
The second connotation of the neighborhood church is that the neighborhood is much larger than the blocks around our building. Our members come from all over the area, driving miles to get here.
What brings you into the center of the city?
What appeals to you here?
FCC is a theologically progressive congregation with a heart for social justice. Not many churches in this area can claim that.
We need to brainstorm ways the larger community can become aware of the nature of the ministry we do here.
One idea that has been expressed is expanding cultural events such as Jazz Vespers and the offerings of Face It! Theater group to bring people in the door. When they are here, how can we display information that tells them who we are, what we believe, how we serve?
Another possibility is to become more vocal advocates for the justice issues in our region.
Most churches believe that they must attract families with young children in order to grow.
That is a holdover from the days when most everyone already belonged to a church, so the way to get new members was to give birth to them.
We live in different times.There are so many people of all ages who have no church connection, yet are hungering for spiritual relationship.
A large portion of those are Baby Boomers who are starting retirement with time and resources on their hands, wanting to put them to use, and feeling a need for spiritual connections.
Here again is where the progressive nature of FCC is appealing to those who are “spiritual but not religious”.
I encourage us to expand our ideas of being a neighborhood church and our ways of connecting with our neighbors.
Grace and Peace.
Lisa
Learn about other upcoming or recent events and programs at FCC:
In September, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the church building.
In the service, we rededicated the building and elements for worship. We “built” our sandwiches at our luncheon afterwards.
It was great, too, to see the history of the congregation that Arlene and Clare Price put together and presented, with a little help from their friends.
This building has nurtured and housed our ministry for well over 150 years. It is the place where our church family gathers for worship and fellowship, learning and eating. Here, we extend a warm welcome and foster the diverse conversations that take place.
Historic First Congregational Church, Binghamton, N.Y.
From here, we reach out to the community around us with the annual Rummage Sale, Ice Cream Social, the new children’s Peace Fair, and a hospitality tent at parades down Main Street.
In the past, the CHOW pantry, and after the 2011 flood, the church building served as a hostel for mission teams coming to the area to help with the post-flood cleanup.
Mission-Inspired Action
The building itself, though, is a ministry to the community.
It has nested the congregations of Unity of the Southern Tier and the Christian Scientists. In the Sangha room, the Binghamton Buddhist meditation group, 3 Jewels Zen meditation group, and the B.U. chapter of the Binghamton Buddhist meditation group meet each week.
And there’s more: Conversations with God, A Course in Miracles, and Conscious Evolution classes delve into their spirituality in the church Parlor.
The Spiritual Book Group gets together on Wednesdays to discuss whatever book they’re currently reading (and discussing) together — in October, that will be America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America, by Jim Wallace, writer, founder, justice activist, and Founder of Sojourners magazine and community.
The Fellowship Hall is the practice space for the Mason Warrington Orchestra, and the spot for the Two Rivers Photography Club to share their works.
The Eden Room nurtures bodies (and minds, and spirits) with Tai Chi, book studies, and Unity and Taize services.
The building is also home to the Sophia Spirituality Center and Southern Tier Solar Works.
In recent years, out building has been the location for special events, too, such as the MICAH Prayer Service for Racial Unity last March; the Spiritual Happenings event occurred here for the past two Springs; and the Face It! Theater Group had performances here last Autumn and expects to have more here in the future.
FCC congregation member, Doug Garner, has organized special community discussion forums throughout the year.
Our facility offers a marvelous ministry,but it can’t do so separately from the congregation. These events need member involvement to assist the organizations in charge and to provide access and security to the building.
The ministry wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful support of Cindi West-Davidson and Lisa Roth.
May our building continue to shelter, nourish, and support the ministry of our congregation and the community beyond our walls for the next 150 years!
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.
The Archangel Gabriel (the Communicator!), c. 1430 by Masolino da Panicale.
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);
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.
God enables newness to happen in our lives, whether we think we need it or not, whether we believe it can happen or not.
Dear Friends,
Easter blessings to you all!
We are in the season of celebrating Resurrection, both Jesus’ and the Resurrection open to all of us through him.
Resurrection occurs in the life we live now; it’s not merely a heavenly insurance policy. God enables newness to happen in our lives, whether we think we need it or not, whether we believe it can happen or not.
This transitional period is by its very nature a time of newness. That can be uncomfortable or raise anxieties.
USDA Forest Service, PD. Photo by Ben Lomond.
We are assured, tho, that God is walking this path with us.
My purpose here is to help navigate through this “wilderness”, together discovering where God is leading us.
Four Tasks of the Transitional Pastor
Transitional pastors have four general tasks; these tasks are not linear or sequential and often overlap.
• Joining (Getting to Know You)
• Assessment
• Vision and Goal-Setting
• Exiting – preparing for the new pastor
Joining is the “getting to know you” that I’ve been engaged in the most over the last three months.
While that continues, this month I’ll begin the process of Assessment.
It involves looking at all aspects of the church’s life to lift up all the positive things that God is doing here and to determine if there are any areas that that can be improved in preparation for the next pastor.
With the help of the Assessment Team (a.k.a Profile Committee), we’ll examine the details of all facets of FCC’s ministry: mission, spirituality, programs, outreach to the community, structure, staffing, finances, etc.
The Assessment results will provide fodder for Vision and Goal-Setting by the Council and the Boards.
It also provides the information necessary to create the formal church profile for the pastoral search.
Light at the End of the Tunnel. PD Image Segugio.
Things are moving forward!
Be assured, things are moving forward.
By taking the time for assessment, we have a better understanding of FCC’s ministry and the qualifications needed for the next pastor.
That, in turn, will give guidance to the church leadership and will enable the Search Committee to find a candidate who is best suited to FCC.
This is all good!
As we enjoy the blessings of Spring and Resurrection, may we experience God in our midst each and every day. Grace and Peace.
Lisa
Upcoming Sacred Sites tour in Binghamton:
The Preservation Association of the Southern Tier is co- sponsoring the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites open house. The theme this year is “From Medieval to Modern: Celebrating New York’s Religious Art and Architecture”. This free event is held each spring.
That day houses of worship around the state have an open house for people to see and learn about them.
This year the day is Sunday May 19, 2019. FCC’s historic church is on the tour again this year, and will be open to the public from 11:30 AM to 1:30 p.m.
What else can you find in this month’s The Forecaster?
The Worship Schedule for May 2019
Upcoming Trustee’s Work Day
Faith Works Fellowship for May
Annual Sleep Out for the Homeless sponsored by SUNY Broome (May 10)
Academic Achievement Awards
Jazz Vespers Final Event on May 12th at 5 p.m, featuring Al Hamme & Friends
FCC Photo Directory is finished!
Binghamton Downtown Singers
Coffee Hour on Sunday, May 5th … join us!
Upcoming UCC New York Annual Conference (May 18th and 19th)
“More than qualifying what attributes are needed for FCC’s next installed pastor, the transition period is an important time to reassess who we are as a unique part of the Body of Christ and explore the particular direction God wants us to go now.”
~ the Rev. Lisa Heckman
Pastor’s Ponderings
Rev. Lisa Heckman, FCC’s Transitional Minister.
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.~~ Jeremiah 29:11
Dear Friends,
God sends that message of hope through Jeremiah at a time when the people were hopeless. Recently exiled from their homes in Judea, now displaced in Babylon, they thought God had forsaken them.
We at FCC are not hopeless by any means (!), and we have even more assurance in God’s plans for our hope-filled future.
Our challenge is discerning what those plans are. That’s gonna take some time!
Those who were here before Art Suggs’ ministry may remember a period of tribulation with several Interim Ministers and a significant loss in membership.
Add to that the normal anxiety of a time of transition, and the immediate reaction is to get the next installed pastor in place as quickly as possible!
“While the desire to rush things is understandable, a fast solution is rarely the best solution. A quick fix can create even more problems in the long term.”
Stained glass window, historic sanctuary at First Congregational Church, Binghamton, N.Y. Photo by J. Walters.
The Transition Team stated that one of the key goals of the Transitional Period is:
To help the leadership and thus the congregation refresh, evolve, and/or clarify the vision and mission, and affirm or create anew a really clear sense of the values and mission-elements that are important to these times and help us to move forward.
More than qualifying what attributes are needed for FCC’s next installed pastor, the transition period is an important time to reassess who we are now as this particular part of the Body of Christ and what is the direction God wants us to go.
This work will dovetail with our exploration of what is needed to create the church’s formal profile for the pastoral search.
The profile is an extremely detailed and comprehensive description of our ministry. It incorporates the usual statistical and demographic information about FCC, but goes much deeper:
It requires the same kind of exploration of mission, ministry, and calling that we already wish to do during the transition.
We will need a team of people to develop the profile on behalf of the congregation, and it is my hope to work closely with this team as we explore and uncover who we are and where God is leading us.
While all this is going on, our day to day, week to week ministry will keep moving forward!
We will worship, study, serve the community, be in fellowship with one another, laugh and cry together, and live the Spirit filled lives we are called to live.
God has good plans in store for us and we can be assured of Jesus’ presence with us every step of the way.
Grace and Peace,
Lisa
On the Near Horizon – Lenten Music & Meditation Services
On Wednesday evenings between Lent and Easter, join us for our Lenten Music & Meditation services starting on March 13th through April 10th.
The community Soup Supper begins at 6 p.m. each Wednesday during Lent, and is followed by the Music & Meditation service at 7 p.m.
FCC’s Church Council Begins its New Year
FCC’s Church Council, February 2019.
With 12 leaders present at the first meeting of the new year, almost all activity groups in church were represented. The various reports helped the new leadership know what is happening.
It also was helpful for Rev. Lisa Heckman, FCC’s new Transitional Minister, to get a feel of how the Congregational “system” works.
Rev. Heckman also shared what she feels called to do as pastor of our congregation.
An important part of that work is to survey our membership and find what we believe and want for our church.
That will be part of the challenge of a committee to be appointed to write a church profile. Once the new formal profile — that reflects who FCC is now — is completed, a search committee will be able to identify the qualities to look for in a new pastor.
The profile committee will be established very soon.
Council will also organize an installation of newly elected church leaders on Sunday, March 3, 2019.
Connect on Facebook
FCC has had a Facebook page for quite awhile now, and it’s about to get a fresh inflow of inspiration as Rev. Heckman begins her Transitional Ministry!
If you haven’t already, follow us on Facebook. If you’re already following, stop by and see what’s new and what’s brewing!
