When I’m asked what my favorite time of year is – I generally respond with fall. The beginning of a new school year always excited me. Done was the un-structuredness and boredom of summer and the beginning of a new year of focused learning. My love of learning has continued into my adulthood. I am the definition of a lifelong learner.
Studies show that we are never too old to continue learning and that there are significant benefits to continued learning. Lifelong learning is not just about acquiring new knowledge, but also about fostering a mindset of continuous growth, adaptability, and resilience, which are essential for navigating the complexities of modern life.
Learning fosters innovation and creativity by encouraging individuals to think critically and explore new ideas. It fuels curiosity and instills a desire to question. Lifelong learners become catalysts for positive change, inspiring others to think outside the box and push the boundaries of possibility. Proverbs 9:9 speaks to this. "Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning."
As we continue the Interim Process there will be two learning opportunities beginning this month. The first will be focused on the spiritual practice of prayer – in all its many forms – and how you can incorporate prayer into the Interim Process as you discern what God is calling you to as a congregation.
The second opportunity will be a book study. The book we will be reading and discussing is
"Weird Church: Welcome to the Twenty-First Century",
written by Beth Ann Estock and Paul Nixon.
The authors have been church consultants for more than two decades – helping congregations to successfully navigate the changing landscape. Utilizing Spiral Dynamics as a means of framing the current changes in North American culture – Estock and Nixon explore how churches might reimagine themselves in the twenty-first century – giving numerous examples of congregations who revived themselves by becoming "weird churches."
I hope you will consider participating in one, if not both, of these learning opportunities. There will be an evening and a daytime opportunity for both.
I’d also like to extend an invitation to anyone who is unclear or unsure of what the interim process entails or is unable to participate in Dinner & Discernment gatherings to reach out to me and I will meet with you one-to-one. Everyone’s voices matter.
Blessings,
Pastor Lynda
