June 2009

JIt was beautiful. The tables were tastefully decorated and invited us to sit, relax and enjoy as we stepped into the World Café. We savored the smell of fresh coffee, fruit and pastries. The kind old maitre d’ welcomed us and immediately put us at ease. As we greeted friends and family, we sat down and many started doodling with the crayons on the white paper tablecloths.

Hey wait a minute! Crayons? Paper tablecloths? What kind of fancy restaurant was this? Certainly not Morton’s Steakhouse! Certainly not a place with a wine list extending to $3,000 bottles of fine vintage! No, this was a place you could wear your pajama bottoms to if you wished. The World Café was situated right in the middle of Redlands UCC in our familiar Covenant Hall.

Such was the scene as we lived out Vision Day on Saturday, May 16th. The World Café model was perfect as we sat with each other at tables of four and feasted on different “entrées” of our future together. Physical space, programs, spiritual growth, and outreach and mission were on the “menu” as we brainstormed, discussed and dreamed. The format allowed for the free flow of ideas at each table followed by a “harvest” of the ideas for the larger group. Many of us were amazed at not only the ideas that came from the other groups, but what sprang to life at our own tables!

For the details on the ideas that came out of Vision Day, read the related article in this edition of The Wanderings. But I’d like to thank the people who participated, both in person as well as in spirit, and the people who will make the vision come to life over the coming months and years. Their spirit of cooperation, openness, and patience is a testament to the kind of people who make up RUCC. People here do more than talk the talk. We also walk the walk. And the walk is not a gentle stroll down memory lane. It’s an invigorating, heart-pumping, wide-eyed turn around the neighborhood of our faith.

There are so many exciting opportunities that we are actively pursuing. At the same time, we are also staying open to new paths, new horizons and new wonders as we go. As the central scripture said at Vision Day: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says God, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The future is bright at RUCC as we listen to God’s still-speaking voice, as we serve our brothers and sisters in God’s realm, and as we worship together in love.

With optimism and hope,
Loring Fiske-Phillips