In 2020 the churchwide organization affirmed a new focus for the ELCA to activate the entire church so that more people may know the way of Jesus and discover God’s community, justice and love. To do so, churchwide identified three priority areas: a welcoming church that engages new, young and diverse people; a thriving church rooted in tradition andradically relevant; and a connected, sustainable church that shares in a common purpose and direction.
As I witnessed the community art installation come into fruition (great work Bob Wince for creating it and helping so many to participate), I couldn’t help reflecting how ASLC is indeed helping so many people taste, see and experience the community, justice and love God in Christ Jesus. The community art project allowed people from All Saints, friends of All Saints, and staff and children from Able Academics to join God in co-creating the community, justice and love that will overflow from sharing our campus and partnering with so many different people. These include Able Academics of course, but also the Port Orange Fire Department, the Port Orange Police Department, The Volusia County Sheriff’s office, Beacon Woods Neighbors, the folks staying at Endless Summer Campground, local musicians (thanks Hena!) and whoever else God brings into the mix.
The community art installation is but one example of ASLC becoming a welcoming, a thriving, and connected, sustainable church. Others include the Walking Wounded grief group (Did you know that a local funeral director shares the group with all grieving families she works with?), the Enabling Community Dinners, our Justice Ministry, and our community worship at Solaris, the Gallery & House Church. How did we make this shift from a small congregation unsure of our future to a welcoming, thriving, connected, sustainable church?
… by tuning into and unleashing the Spirit moving in each of you. Each of us have God-given passions and gifts and when you are encouraged to use them to the glory of God’s kin-dom, anything can and will happen! Bob Wince loves art, Al Sousa loves to cook, George & Annie Carrington are passionate about neurodiverse kids and families and are amazing connectors, Lois Patterson loves to cook and host, Shar Barron is passionate about supporting people who are struggling, Kathy Dzuris is an amazing organizer and has shared that gift with many of these initiatives… I could go on and on. How is the Spirit calling you to share your passions and gifts so our neighbors, partners, and friends continue to experience the community, justice and love of God in and through ASLC?
4 Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, 5 and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 13