On Labor Day, I was sitting in the garden with several of you, weeding, dodging fire ants, and having a good time. So, I asked 5 of you a simple question, “If you could dream a dream for Gethsemane, what would it be?” (And money were not an issue).
Most of you probably don’t remember my asking you that 7 years ago when I first came... but I did. I completed probably 15 or so intentional visits and asked many of you (some of whom are now part of the Church Triumphant) what your dream would be... It is a blessing to see how God has worked in us over the past 7 years just hearing the new answers.
7 years ago, many of the answers were honest, genuine, and reflected a desire to strengthen Gethsemane itself... heal past mistakes... build worship and christian education that would strengthen our faith. You dreamt of bringing back folk who had left because their feelings had been hurt. You dreamt of a worship service that had passionate music, that all ages enjoyed, Sunday school for kids, and more involvement of different age groups in the church.
Many of those dreams have been answered in some way or another. God is good.
Labor Day, I sat and asked 5 of you the same question... Wow! The dreams have gotten bigger! There were dreams of schools, community centers, family development programs, connections with artists in the community, caring for at-risk youth by involving their entire families in a safe space. There were dreams of developing partnerships with TCC and TCU and different societies in Fort Worth.
I am so blessed to serve with a congregation that in the last 6 years since we chose our vision statement, we have all really begun to have faith that can walk on water.
Now, I am hopeful that with the training we can obtain through Allied Communities of Tarrant, with the partnerships in ACT, and with most of all that passion and vision that you have, we can discern the next step in faith as Gethsemane that we can all take together. Let’s get out of the boat and walk towards Jesus!
Blessings,
Rev. Lindsay
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