Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old shall dream dreams,
   and your young shall see visions.
—Joel 2:28

With Ingathering Sunday behind us and budget planning ahead, I keep thinking about this text. I love that we talk and think about our stretch goals as “dreaming big.” What are the dreams we could bring to life in this congregation, and in our community, with the kinds of numbers we’re talking about?

It’s easy for churches to hunker down and set their expectations low, especially when they’re worried about how they’re going to be able to keep the lights on. We are looking up, and imagining great things, imagining a better world. And we’re looking around, and seeing signs of that better world all around us. Most obviously, in the fact that at least a third of our active, regular attendees are families including young children. And work has begun on bringing the beautiful vision of our Memorial Garden to life! 

Maybe we won’t hit our lofty budget goal, but the dreaming is an important part of the process. It brings our hopes and desires for our community into clearer focus, and helps us see more clearly where we are now.

What do you dream for St. Columba’s? What visions excite you? What seems out of reach now, but maybe possible in a couple more years, if we continue to grow? What are we growing into?

I’m excited to continue asking these questions with you as we go.

James Wyatt