Late last Monday afternoon, at the end of my last day of vacation, I completed my review of the “galleys” of my forthcoming book*, signed off on the manuscript, and sent it back to the publishers. It was my last chance for changes. Now it’s out of my hand and off to the publishers for printing.

It’s been a long process, writing this book. The seeds of some of the ideas in the book have been gestating in my mind since I first became a Christ-follower in my early twenties (that’s more than three decades for those of you don’t know my birth year). The first time I actually wrote any of them down was in a paper I wrote for a seminary class in the early ‘90s. It wasn’t until about five years ago that I seriously turned my mind toward writing a book on the subject. Not being a woman, it might be slightly disingenuous of me to use the birthing process as a metaphor for my experience. But if I might be permitted to do so, I would have to say it was one heck of a long labor and delivery.

Most of you are already familiar with what I have said so far. But what you may not know is just how interconnected the book is with my experience at St. Nick’s, and just how much of St. Nick’s DNA may be found in the book. When an online book chain headquartered in Denmark recently started offering the book for pre-order, I noted with interest that the Dutch word for “author” is “forfatter,” the literally meaning of which is exactly what it sounds like: “forefather.” Well, if I am the forfatther this book, then St. Nick’s is the book’s foremoeder. And we shared the labor and delivery together.

By this I am not only referring to the fact that a number of you took part at various times in the groups that reviewed, discussed, and commented on the chapters of the book as they evolved (though this help was invaluable). What I mean to say is that without the existence of St. Nick’s this book could not have been written. You all have been the “living laboratory” which helped refine the book’s concepts. You tested the concepts in the crucible of a real church community, helped nurture them into maturity, and helped to put them into words that would resonate with everyday people.

The book’s subtitle, “Creating Christian Community Beyond Us and Them,” could easily serve as a marketing slogan for St. Nick’s. It’s what we do. It’s what we are. Not to say we are perfect or anything, but our way of Christian community is pretty unique among churches. Many people are trying to make church more relevant and appealing by changing the packaging. We have been stripping Christian community down to its core – the unity that Christ’s love for us alone makes possible – so that the new/ancient paradigm of Christian community could emerge/re-emerge. It has worked. Despite everything “the changes and chances of this world” has thrown at us – miraculously – here we are: not just surviving, but thriving.

Which brings me to my dream for St. Nick’s.

We have been through many struggles in recent years. There were delays, which led to more delays, which led to tiredness and burnout for some and frustration and de-motivation for others. The results were plateaus in attendance and giving, which lead to drawing down reserves, and so on. Over the last year and a half, we have seen the trend lines turn around massively: membership is up, attendance is up, giving is up, new leaders are beginning to step forward. But we still have a fair way to go before we are fully self-supporting once more. Recently, our Diocese has stepped into the breach: committing themselves to three years of decreasing support, at the end of which we will have to – and with your help, fully expect to – rely on our own resources from there on out. And all this is good. Yet, as the saying goes, it is necessary, but not sufficient.

You see, I have always believed that what we do at St. Nick’s, we do not only for ourselves, but for our diocese, for our denomination, and for the whole Church. I believe that the way of Christian community we have birthed at St. Nick’s is essential to the future of the Church. So it is not enough for us to survive. I believe God is calling us not just to survive but to thrive: inviting us to thrive by increasing our membership, by deepening our relationship with God and each other, and by clarifying of our vision. This confidence in our calling will enable us to share that which God has graciously and generously given birth to in us: a way of Christian community in which there is no us and them. That is my dream for St. Nick’s. That is my prayer for you.

See you Sunday!

In Christ’s love,
Ken+