Okay, I want to reflect on our MCBC Annual Meeting, but I have to try to draw you in with an exciting title!
It's hard to get everything done in one day - but who wants two days of meetings?! I found that I was constantly adjusting times of items on the agenda throughout the day because some of the items ended up taking more time than we had imagined or allotted. I was very blessed that at the end of the day we came out about where we had planned to - time-wise.
I found that the one item that we short-changed was the time for discussion. This was one item that could be moved around, but that it basically got moved right off the page was very disappointing for me. We are professing to be a church with a congregational approach, and then for the voices of the people to be squeezed out, suggests that we are not practicing what we preach. I just want to register that this was not our intention. It just happened due to the unexpected lengthening of the day.
I have heard many good responses, a couple of concerns, and some good ideas to consider for the future. The good responses were to the telling of the stories of the host congregations and the exciting welcome of our new congregation - the Western Hmong Mennonite Church.
One concern I recall is that the finance report should be more connected to the missional activity of MCBC. I have already mentioned this to our finance committee and they can appreciate this value, and will work towards it. A second concern is with the number of people who leave half way through the day, and then even more filter out through the afternoon. This has always been a concern, and so we ask for your ideas for a response to this matter. Thirdly, there was concern about the number of people who could not come to LEAD because it is during the day on Friday.
Here are some good ideas for the future. Some have said that my concern about lack of time for discussion was not a problem; they believed that there was not much to be discussed this year. But, they said that if there were some significant items for discussion, it doesn't make sense to have people just line up at mikes in the large assembly. We should bring well-articulated discussion items to table groups for some real interaction (as we have done in the past.) Some I spoke with felt that LEAD and the Annual Meeting could be both done on Saturday. Some said that the Annual Meeting should only focus on future vision, and not on the reports of the last year of activity (these are to be read in the report book.)
Well I hope this has given you some stimulation for your own responses. This time I SERIOUSLY WANT YOU WHO READ THIS BLOG TO RESPOND with your thought of how to best do LEAD and the Annual Meeting.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Paddling for Squeah
This past weekend I spent two gorgeous days on the Fraser River in a canoe, paddling from Hope all the way to Fort Langley. I checked Google Maps for the distance by following the road distance on the No. 7 highway, which pretty much runs parallel to the river. It was 100 kms.
Each year the Paddle-a-Thon raises funds that are put towards the Camp Squeah Summer Staff Bursary Fund. This fund was established to help our volunteer staff who return to college or university after the summer, to still be able to spend their summers at camp and have something to put towards the ever rising costs of tuition. (This description is a quote directly from the camp website.)
I wasn't taking pictures, but there were lots of pictures taken, so hopefully I'll be about to get those for you later.
The VERY COOL thing was that in the end, we found out that a total of $51,000 was raised - with only 1/2 the paddlers of last year - 18 in all.
I was in a 2-person canoe with my friend, Gerald Dyck. The journey has us on the water Saturday morning and afternoon with a lunch break on a sand bar along the way. Then we camp for night at a spot north of Chilliwack. There is an amazing support crew that brings all our camping stuff and cooks supper for us. We just have to pitch our tents and go to bed.
Well, actually, the camp's Program Director (Tim Larson) has a friend living only 5 minutes from our camp site, and Tim invited anyone who was interested in watching the 2nd game of the Vancouver/Los Angeles Stanley Cup series, to join him. Who would turn down an invitation like that? It was a bit strange to go watch the game on a big screen in someone's nice house in the midst of our wilderness trip. Too bad the Canucks lost.
I have had some experience canoing in lakes, but river water is very different. Thankfully I got to take the front seat. Day One has the challenging water. On Day Two it's pretty wide open river - and I mean "wide". The Fraser takes up a lot of space at some places. On Day One (between Hope and Chilliwack), we had 4 or 5 narrow places with eddies and whirl pools that we had to carefully navigate, and then power through the rough waters in between. The calm before the rough water was a bit unnerving, but the calm after was rather comforting and satisfying. Gerald and I managed all the tough spots. In fact, of the one big canoe, the two 2-person canoes, and the four kayaks, only one kayak overturned once!
Day Two brought us to a lovely soup and sandwich lunch at a park just west of the Mission bridge, and then a pizza supper to close at Fort Langley.
It was amazing to take in the beautiful surroundings of nature. You see the back side of the mountains that are to the north of the No. 1 highway through the Fraser Valley. On day two we stopped for a mid-afternoon break on a beach along the way. When we got out of the canoes and looked back - at the centre of the view, framed by the mountains that rise up on either side of the river, was the beautiful snow-capped Mount Baker. It would have been to our backs all the time, but we didn't know.
Each year the Paddle-a-Thon raises funds that are put towards the Camp Squeah Summer Staff Bursary Fund. This fund was established to help our volunteer staff who return to college or university after the summer, to still be able to spend their summers at camp and have something to put towards the ever rising costs of tuition. (This description is a quote directly from the camp website.)
I wasn't taking pictures, but there were lots of pictures taken, so hopefully I'll be about to get those for you later.
The VERY COOL thing was that in the end, we found out that a total of $51,000 was raised - with only 1/2 the paddlers of last year - 18 in all.
I was in a 2-person canoe with my friend, Gerald Dyck. The journey has us on the water Saturday morning and afternoon with a lunch break on a sand bar along the way. Then we camp for night at a spot north of Chilliwack. There is an amazing support crew that brings all our camping stuff and cooks supper for us. We just have to pitch our tents and go to bed.
Well, actually, the camp's Program Director (Tim Larson) has a friend living only 5 minutes from our camp site, and Tim invited anyone who was interested in watching the 2nd game of the Vancouver/Los Angeles Stanley Cup series, to join him. Who would turn down an invitation like that? It was a bit strange to go watch the game on a big screen in someone's nice house in the midst of our wilderness trip. Too bad the Canucks lost.
I have had some experience canoing in lakes, but river water is very different. Thankfully I got to take the front seat. Day One has the challenging water. On Day Two it's pretty wide open river - and I mean "wide". The Fraser takes up a lot of space at some places. On Day One (between Hope and Chilliwack), we had 4 or 5 narrow places with eddies and whirl pools that we had to carefully navigate, and then power through the rough waters in between. The calm before the rough water was a bit unnerving, but the calm after was rather comforting and satisfying. Gerald and I managed all the tough spots. In fact, of the one big canoe, the two 2-person canoes, and the four kayaks, only one kayak overturned once!
Day Two brought us to a lovely soup and sandwich lunch at a park just west of the Mission bridge, and then a pizza supper to close at Fort Langley.
It was amazing to take in the beautiful surroundings of nature. You see the back side of the mountains that are to the north of the No. 1 highway through the Fraser Valley. On day two we stopped for a mid-afternoon break on a beach along the way. When we got out of the canoes and looked back - at the centre of the view, framed by the mountains that rise up on either side of the river, was the beautiful snow-capped Mount Baker. It would have been to our backs all the time, but we didn't know.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Having a Shower
Okay, this is not exactly about having a shower, but about fitness. As I have mentioned, I have the privilege of playing drop in hockey 3 mornings a week all year round (for free), playing on a team in hockey season, and roller blading when hockey doesn't work out and the streets are dry.
There are several reasons why I chose not to move to Abbotsford when I accepted the calling to be the Executive Minister for Mennonite Church BC. The most prominent one was the reality that the life of my family was in the Vancouver area. This included the fact that all three of our children were still living at home, Diane had a job within walking distance of our home, and we had no interest in changing churches.
Another reason I wanted to stay in the Vancouver area was to keep one foot in this area. The MCBC congregations are fairly evenly distributed between Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. I knew I would be putting one foot firmly into Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley, but I still wanted to keep the other one where the other 1/2 of our congregations are.
Lastly, and the least known reason that I wanted to stay in Ladner, is that I had a very good fitness option here of playing drop in and team hockey. The early morning drop in hockey is my greatest place of Christian witness. There are at least 30 guys that come out regularly. They come from all walks of life. Some are Christians, but most are not. We have a bbq every summer. A bunch of us went out for sushi around Christmas.
When going to hockey doesn't work out, roller blading is a great option. Ladner is probably the flattest place in the Lower Mainland, so I have found some routes of nice smooth pavement. I don't know how it is in Abbotsford or elsewhere where you might be, but in Ladner (part of the Fraser River delta as it flows into the ocean), when the wind is blowing, it seems to blow from three different directions. When I am roller blading and it is windy (like today), I go some of the distance in all four directions. I know when the wind is at my back, but I certainly also know when it is not.
All this said, I really try to not have a shower unless I have completed one of the excersie options!
There are several reasons why I chose not to move to Abbotsford when I accepted the calling to be the Executive Minister for Mennonite Church BC. The most prominent one was the reality that the life of my family was in the Vancouver area. This included the fact that all three of our children were still living at home, Diane had a job within walking distance of our home, and we had no interest in changing churches.
Another reason I wanted to stay in the Vancouver area was to keep one foot in this area. The MCBC congregations are fairly evenly distributed between Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. I knew I would be putting one foot firmly into Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley, but I still wanted to keep the other one where the other 1/2 of our congregations are.
Lastly, and the least known reason that I wanted to stay in Ladner, is that I had a very good fitness option here of playing drop in and team hockey. The early morning drop in hockey is my greatest place of Christian witness. There are at least 30 guys that come out regularly. They come from all walks of life. Some are Christians, but most are not. We have a bbq every summer. A bunch of us went out for sushi around Christmas.
When going to hockey doesn't work out, roller blading is a great option. Ladner is probably the flattest place in the Lower Mainland, so I have found some routes of nice smooth pavement. I don't know how it is in Abbotsford or elsewhere where you might be, but in Ladner (part of the Fraser River delta as it flows into the ocean), when the wind is blowing, it seems to blow from three different directions. When I am roller blading and it is windy (like today), I go some of the distance in all four directions. I know when the wind is at my back, but I certainly also know when it is not.
All this said, I really try to not have a shower unless I have completed one of the excersie options!
Searching for Pastors
A big part of my work life is helping congregations search well when they are needing a new pastor. Right now we have five searches going on and a couple of others who are considering it. Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack is looking for a associate pastor with primary responsibility towards the youth; Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver is looking for an associate with responsibility for youth and young adults (and possibility worship if the right person is found); Chinese Grace Mennonite Church in Vancouver looking for a youth/English pastor; United Mennonite Church, Black Creek (on Vancouver Island) is looking for a lead pastor; and Kelowna First Mennonite Church is also looking for a lead pastor.
The value of getting a good fit in a pastor/congregation relationship is immense, and sets the stage for a good journey together. This is why MCBC is giving a significant effort toward helping congregations search well. I have put a lot of miles on in meeting with search committees, and I am more than willing to continue to make this a number one priority.
If there is a transition happening that we don't know about, please let us know so that we can help you get at the best resources to do a good search and find a good fit.
Another part of a good journey together is having a Pastor Congregation Relations Committee. This should not be the church board or any other committee in the structures of congregational leadership. It is a neutral committee that is a liaison between the congregation and pastor. These committee members are available to hear the pastor's concerns, as well as the congregation's concerns. They are also there to make sure regular encouragement is passed on. They stand in the gap to help the relationship to be strong, open and healthy.
Please call me at any time. You can also get very helpful resources at the Mennonite Church Canada website, www.mennonitechurch.ca. Go to the Resource Centre and then type in a search for Ministry Transitions. There will be documents to download on all of these matters.
The value of getting a good fit in a pastor/congregation relationship is immense, and sets the stage for a good journey together. This is why MCBC is giving a significant effort toward helping congregations search well. I have put a lot of miles on in meeting with search committees, and I am more than willing to continue to make this a number one priority.
If there is a transition happening that we don't know about, please let us know so that we can help you get at the best resources to do a good search and find a good fit.
Another part of a good journey together is having a Pastor Congregation Relations Committee. This should not be the church board or any other committee in the structures of congregational leadership. It is a neutral committee that is a liaison between the congregation and pastor. These committee members are available to hear the pastor's concerns, as well as the congregation's concerns. They are also there to make sure regular encouragement is passed on. They stand in the gap to help the relationship to be strong, open and healthy.
Please call me at any time. You can also get very helpful resources at the Mennonite Church Canada website, www.mennonitechurch.ca. Go to the Resource Centre and then type in a search for Ministry Transitions. There will be documents to download on all of these matters.
Rhythm
I'm not known to have a lot of rhythm. This is why I kind of avoid dancing, and clapping for that matter. Do you know how much harder it is to clap on the off-beat than it is to clap on the beat? I can pretty much pull off clapping on the beat, and sometimes a song gets both on and off going, but when the clapping is on the off-beat, I am hopeless and I don't even start. So with dancing, I think I could put together a bit of a waltz, but being married to a woman who has good rhythm and who grew up dancing, it's a bit of a stretch to call my part in the activity dancing. With our daughter getting married one year ago (yesterday was their anniversary), I managed to avoid the dance floor. I'm not so sure if I will be so lucky with our son's wedding this August!
There's another kind of rhythm. It is the rhythm of our lives. To have a good rhythm, there are some important pieces that need their regular attention. The ones that I consider important include: prayer, listening to God, Scripture reading/study, family time, couple time, personal time, work time, rest, Sabbath rest, fitness and play. Did I miss anything? I find that when all of these receive their appropriate attention, my life has rhythm. I also find that the balance of these can easily get out of rhythm. The way I maintain peace of mind is to look at this rhythm from the perspective of the big picture. This way, when one or two of these components get out of whack, I can slowly and gently, and with God's help, ease the rhythm back to where it should be. If I would get uptight every time something went a little off, I wouldn't have much peace of mind.
Let me just give a brief example of the practical items that fit these categories. Generally Sunday noon to Monday noon is my Sabbath rest. I pick up on a couple of the important items during this time. Sunday afternoon and evening are often a combination of personal, couple or family time. Monday morning includes fitness (early morning hockey), then my devotional time (prayer, Scripture and listening to God).
I do have a rhythm of daily devotions, but sometimes these get squeezed out by other things. I consider my Sabbath on Monday mornings to be a very important time of getting the clock ticking right again.
For fitness, I have the blessing of early morning hockey 3 times a week all year round (absolutely free), plus a league team that I play on during the season. When this rhythm gets out of whack (like today), I try to fit in a good roller blade run around my town - Ladner.
Work - I probably do too much of that. But, I enjoy a flexible schedule, so my personal and work life gets a bit intertwined throughout the week, but I pay attention to finding the right balance of both in the grand rhythm of it all.
Play is playing hockey or watching it - as well as watching a host of other sports; also riding motorcycle. Diane and I still maintain a date a month which can include lots of options for things to do. Personal time includes reading and working around the house and yard, as well as trying to get away to Camp Squeah for a personal or couple retreat once a year.
I look forward to any of your thoughts.
There's another kind of rhythm. It is the rhythm of our lives. To have a good rhythm, there are some important pieces that need their regular attention. The ones that I consider important include: prayer, listening to God, Scripture reading/study, family time, couple time, personal time, work time, rest, Sabbath rest, fitness and play. Did I miss anything? I find that when all of these receive their appropriate attention, my life has rhythm. I also find that the balance of these can easily get out of rhythm. The way I maintain peace of mind is to look at this rhythm from the perspective of the big picture. This way, when one or two of these components get out of whack, I can slowly and gently, and with God's help, ease the rhythm back to where it should be. If I would get uptight every time something went a little off, I wouldn't have much peace of mind.
Let me just give a brief example of the practical items that fit these categories. Generally Sunday noon to Monday noon is my Sabbath rest. I pick up on a couple of the important items during this time. Sunday afternoon and evening are often a combination of personal, couple or family time. Monday morning includes fitness (early morning hockey), then my devotional time (prayer, Scripture and listening to God).
I do have a rhythm of daily devotions, but sometimes these get squeezed out by other things. I consider my Sabbath on Monday mornings to be a very important time of getting the clock ticking right again.
For fitness, I have the blessing of early morning hockey 3 times a week all year round (absolutely free), plus a league team that I play on during the season. When this rhythm gets out of whack (like today), I try to fit in a good roller blade run around my town - Ladner.
Work - I probably do too much of that. But, I enjoy a flexible schedule, so my personal and work life gets a bit intertwined throughout the week, but I pay attention to finding the right balance of both in the grand rhythm of it all.
Play is playing hockey or watching it - as well as watching a host of other sports; also riding motorcycle. Diane and I still maintain a date a month which can include lots of options for things to do. Personal time includes reading and working around the house and yard, as well as trying to get away to Camp Squeah for a personal or couple retreat once a year.
I look forward to any of your thoughts.
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