What kind of legacy do we want to leave for future generations?
By Lynne Onishi
December Recap
On Sunday, December 3, we gathered for a luncheon to celebrate our vote to become a Reconciling church! Thank you to all who helped put this spectacular lunch together! Later in the month, our young adults celebrated the festive holiday season at the Bellevue Botanical Garden’s holiday lights display.
The end of the year is always a prime opportunity to reflect on what we’ve done and see how we might want to change things to better serve our congregation and community. Our Innovation Hub Committee met in December to reflect on our last year of ministry and discuss goals for 2024. We talked about the cycle of innovation and the importance of measuring and evaluating our work. We recalled all the joys and changes we’ve seen at the Church this past year, including Blaine’s recent affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network! Some highlights from the year were the “Reparations” film screening, the Kubota Garden spiritual walk, and the many beautiful hiking trips!
A New Year
Personally, I have also been reflecting on my last year and the things I need to evaluate as an individual. I’ve never been someone who makes good on New Year’s resolutions, but I intend to start off the new year with a renewed approach to life. As I prepare for all that is to come in these next few months, I have found myself thinking back to January of last year and my immersion trip to San Antonio. This trip was an opportunity to learn about new ways of innovative ministry that often occur outside the walls of a church. We spoke with pastors, non-profit leaders, artists, and archivists who were reimagining church and community. So much of what we saw and experienced was relevant to this congregation and community I call home.
As I prepare to return to San Antonio (this time as a leader for a new cohort of young people), I am wondering what new insights I’ll gather and bring home with me. I am also thinking about this concept of legacy, of passing on stories and wisdom to a new generation of young people. What will I want to pass down to the leaders here that come after me?
At the end of the month, this congregation will gather to celebrate 120 years of ministry! And with this anniversary approaching, I can’t help but think about the legacy of this Church. What kind of legacy do we want to leave for future generations? How will the choices we make now shape the stories that are told about us 120 years in the future?
I’m excited for all the storytelling that comes with such an occasion! Though I’ve grown up in this congregation, I am still learning new stories about this community each day. I’m sure we’ll tell many stories about the history of this Church that will inform the future. This congregation has endured changes throughout the years and must continue to adapt as the lives of our community members and neighbors change. And only through honoring our past will we determine how best to move forward! Cheers to 120 years of ministry!
The Innovation Hub team and Reconciling Ministries Task Force are always looking for new folks to join us. If you feel called to lend your voice to these important ministries, we invite you to join us at our next team zoom meeting. Please contact Lynne or any of the other team members for more information.
Questions? Send an email to lynneonishi@gmail.com
Lynne Onishi serves as the Director for the Blaine Youth Group.
The Beacon is now available!
View the Jan-Feb 2024 Calendar
