There’s something energizing about waiting for a play to begin. I love hearing the hum of the audience as people trickle in, find their seats, and settle in for a few hours of delight.
As I sat in the audience of Wicked last weekend in Tampa, a small piece of paper escaped my playbill. I caught it, read it, and sighed.
Just my luck. Today one of the main characters would be played by a substitute actor. Leave it to me to get the B Team!
The curtains opened. The play began. It was an A+++ production. The best I’ve ever seen!
No one could discern who was new and who had been there all along. I totally forgot my concerns. But I did think of UCG.
We’re in a time of transition. One of our A-Team members is following a new path and we’re making some casting decisions. In fact, we might decide to revise the play based on our needs.
Over the next months, we’ll spend some time in review. What internal and external ministries continue to serve our mission? Are there ministries that are no longer needed? Are there other ministries we feel called to pursue?
We’ll look at our financial situation and we’ll spend time dreaming about ways we can meet present and future needs. We’ll ask things like: How many ministers do we need to fulfill our mission? How might those roles be configured? Is our present model working? What does UCG need?
It might be easy to get stuck into the A Team vs B Team drama. My experience at Wicked reminded me that all “players” are only as good as the cast members gathered around them. Everyone must work together to deliver an amazing production.
Andy’s retirement will leave a big hole — for congregants as well as for Bromleigh and Talia. Perhaps you have gifts that might help fill that hole as we make decisions about the future. How might you contribute to UCG’s health as we move forward?
I suggest that we view April as a month of celebration. Let’s share our appreciation to Andy for all he has done over these many years. And let’s shower Bromleigh and Talia with emails, cards, and words to express our support and appreciation for what they are doing and will continue to do. Let them know how you’re willing to pitch in and/or support them during the transition.
At UCG, we’re all full participants in the mission of our community. Thanks for all the many ways you live into the lives of others here at UCG and beyond. Let’s be a little “Wicked” in the next months as we help one another and share our vision of what we, as a community, might become.
Nan Ryan