No Longer A Tourist
Dear Church Family,
When I mention to people that I’m serving Park Avenue United Methodist for the coming year, I’m amazed at the number of people who respond, “Hey, I know that church!” Park Ave has a ministry reputation that sends ripples of impact far beyond our immediate neighborhood. For many years, I also would say “Hey, I know that church!” And now I’m privileged to also start being able to say, “Hey, I know those people!”
Undergirding the public image of Park Ave as a place of spirited worship, creative programming, and community outreach are the personal lives of countless faithful souls that comprise this family of faith.
In his sermon on Sunday July 13, Simon Trautmann Cordova referenced a song by Bad Bunny entitled TURiSTA. Translated into English the opening lines of this love ballad read: “In my life you were a tourist – you only saw the best of me, and not what I suffered. You left without knowing why – the reason for my wounds.” It’s a privilege to move beyond a tourist relationship with Park Avenue Church and see all of who we are and who we are becoming.
We are committed to being an inviting and inclusive congregation, making room for ALL people regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other differences that threaten to divide God’s family.
I not only share these values, but I also intentionally seek to be part of such faith communities that cultivate God’s will to “be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I share just a couple recent examples of how this sense of community is being fostered in and through our congregation.
At the last Parent’s Night Out event, when staff and volunteers provide childcare for a couple hours on a Friday night, parents have some alone time to invest of their choosing. This time, they all chose to go out to a restaurant together for dinner to get to know each other and develop deeper relationships as young families. How’s that for unprompted and spontaneous Christian community!
Last week, “Adult Kids of Park” gathered for a potluck and sharing stories of their growing up experiences in this congregation. The ages spanned a generation, laughter and tears flowed, but the stories shared a common thread – they belong. The people of Park Avenue held faith firmly enough to provide support and guidance but held expectations loosely enough to allow space to authentically grow and develop. It was a testament to the enduring power of spiritual formation and the cumulative influence of caring children and youth leaders over time!
No longer a tourist, but a companion,
Pastor Dan