Summer 2019
Dear Friends,
Sometimes it's nice to be anonymous. Sometimes it's nice to “fly under the radar,” to be able to go about your daily life without attracting unwanted attention or have someone walk up to you starting up a conversation with, “Hey, don't I know you?”
Having been in ministry here with you all here at Second Christian and in the community around us for nearly 17 years, you might think that people would know me by now. But even a few years ago it was clear that people outside our walls didn't necessarily know me – and they didn't know us, they didn't know who we are – or even that we were here. So we began to change that. Our Side By Side Campaign helped us install a beautiful new patio in front of the church. And I got out into the community more intentionally. Not surprisingly, the more involved I became in the life of the Kittery beyond our doors, the more people got to know who I am – and who we are.
A few weeks ago at the 2019 Kittery Block Party, the Doorkeepers were having their bake sale. It was a beautiful day. The front doors were wide open and and people were coming in and out of the church and were gathering on our patio. They were sitting on the wall, resting in the shade, reading the dedications on the bricks, children were playing on the wall, enjoying a cookie or a muffin or a cold drink. People from the community, people passing by, were enjoying this visible extension of our ministry of hospitality. It was glorious!
And they were taking pictures of the BE THE CHURCH banner hanging in front of the church. They were recognizing the witness we make by our visible presence to protecting the environment and caring for the poor, forgiving and welcoming and standing up and standing out, being who we say we are.
There's a time and a place for anonymity. But now is not it. Let's BE THE CHURCH and change the world!
See you out there.
Brad
Dear Friends,
Sometimes it's nice to be anonymous. Sometimes it's nice to “fly under the radar,” to be able to go about your daily life without attracting unwanted attention or have someone walk up to you starting up a conversation with, “Hey, don't I know you?”
Having been in ministry here with you all here at Second Christian and in the community around us for nearly 17 years, you might think that people would know me by now. But even a few years ago it was clear that people outside our walls didn't necessarily know me – and they didn't know us, they didn't know who we are – or even that we were here. So we began to change that. Our Side By Side Campaign helped us install a beautiful new patio in front of the church. And I got out into the community more intentionally. Not surprisingly, the more involved I became in the life of the Kittery beyond our doors, the more people got to know who I am – and who we are.
A few weeks ago at the 2019 Kittery Block Party, the Doorkeepers were having their bake sale. It was a beautiful day. The front doors were wide open and and people were coming in and out of the church and were gathering on our patio. They were sitting on the wall, resting in the shade, reading the dedications on the bricks, children were playing on the wall, enjoying a cookie or a muffin or a cold drink. People from the community, people passing by, were enjoying this visible extension of our ministry of hospitality. It was glorious!
And they were taking pictures of the BE THE CHURCH banner hanging in front of the church. They were recognizing the witness we make by our visible presence to protecting the environment and caring for the poor, forgiving and welcoming and standing up and standing out, being who we say we are.
There's a time and a place for anonymity. But now is not it. Let's BE THE CHURCH and change the world!
See you out there.
Brad