Special Congregational Meeting

by Jean Herriges

I never imagined that I would be a regular churchgoer. As a child I attended church just a handful of times, and as an adult I found the idea of faith highly suspect. There always seemed to be so much hate mixed in with faith that I didn’t see any place for me, especially when I came out as a lesbian. Somewhere in my heart I felt envious of faithful people, like they had a secret I couldn’t share. Then my wife and I found CGS, and this special place made me – and us – feel normal, and welcome, and part of a community. Even then it took me awhile, and I still struggle, but I now realize that faith is there for me, too.

Now I find myself here at CGS week after week, and more involved in our shared church life every day. This has helped me strengthen my faith and feel the power of connection to all of you. I have been called to serve in so many ways, and this year I am honored to serve on the CGS Council as one of your leaders. As you probably know, the church is working on many exciting projects. Council would like to update the congregation on our progress and next steps, and so there will be a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 6, after worship.

Topics of discussion include the following:
· Council Updates
· Stewardship Report
· Christ Community Church
· Building Our Future
· Vote on additional expenditure to fund Listening Study
· Council Round Tables

Childcare will also be provided. Council will discuss each issue and answer your questions about the items. I’m particularly excited about the Building Our Future topic and the Listening Study. I am eager to hear what people are thinking about for the future of our church, and especially about how we might meet the needs of our surrounding community. Welcoming Christ Community Church to our building is one way we have connected to our broader ELCA community, and we will also discuss additional ways to help them serve their congregation.
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Working with Council on these and other issues has helped me feel more connected to you and the rest of the congregation. My faith is evolving, too. I see the potential for us to tackle issues and solve real problems with the power of our hard work plus faith. I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Special Congregational Meeting on May 6, and appreciate everything you do for our community.