Robey’s Ruminations:
On “The Need for Quiet Time”

Rev. Bill Robey          360-943-8025           bncrobey@comcast.net

In late April and May we held three Sacred Conversations worship services in Koinonia Hall. The overall goal of these conversations was this: For all who call Olympia First Christian Church “home” to have a firm understanding of God’s Vision for the new congregation being planted. In the course of those conversations we explored what it means when we speak of the “Kingdom (or Reign) of God” as a future hope and a present reality, and how by planting a new congregation here in the Olympia area you are providing a sign and a foretaste of that coming Reign of God. In addition, by planting the new congregation you are serving as an instrument of God’s Reign here and now.

In this, my last newsletter article before Amy arrives, I want to reprise the comments gleaned from those three services because I believe they demonstrate that we achieved the overall goal of those Sacred Conversations.

The first question asked: How does the Vision serve as a “sign” of God’s present and coming reign? Your comments in response:

• Let go and let God direct the church.
• God is reigning because we still talk about God.
• Changing women’s role and how we are “reinventing” ourselves.
• Some things stay, like social justice.
• How could we have imagined ourselves today, just two years ago?
• Pleased at the leadership development, sacrificial.
• Moved from “wanting” to “doing” social justice.
• Previous votes to move/change failed because there was no plan.
• New pastor/planter was the last piece of the puzzle.
• We’ve walked with God in the process. It will please God.
• We’ve started to live into the vision.
• We have become a leader in the changing world because of the changes.
• The vision for the new congregation is our vision, too.
• A vision of two congregations holding hands, celebrating God’s all-inclusive reign.
• Our openness to the new congregation and excitement for it.
• Our readiness for the new

The second question asked: How does the vision serve as a “foretaste” of God’s present and coming reign? Your comments in response:

• Our openness to others.
• We accept new ways of doing things.
• We recognize we must change of “die”.
• We speak in a “new language” that others can understand.
• The present church models an open, caring, more cosmopolitan community.
• We demonstrate hospitality.
• We know that open minds can open doors.
• We are more social-minded and socially-active.
• We follow the teachings of God and pass them on.
• By reaching out to others we are providing a model for the new church.
• We give hope to people who are looking for hope.
• We translate what we do so others can hear and catch a vision of God’s reign.

The last questions asked: How in seeking to realize the vision are you serving as an instrument of God’s present and coming reign? Your comments in response:

• We use the church building as a mission station.
• We work ecumenically.
• We are opening our hearts and our wallets to support the new congregation.
• We nurture and care for each other more than when we had a settled, full-time pastor.
• We support diversity.
• We are reaching out by sharing our new pastor.
• We are “planting a tree” that we probably won’t see fully grown in our lifetimes.
• We are doing communion and baptism directly.
• We are enabling others to learn their own way.
• We find Christianity to be more Christ-like than the Christian right.
• We are doing something hopeful and positive rather than just accepting death.
• We are taking responsibility to see that the new congregation won’t fail.
• We recognize that the two congregations do not have to agree on everything.
• We are being supportive of Amy and the new congregation.

I hope you will review the comments from these Sacred Conversations from time to time as you continue on your journey together. They may be helpful reminders along the way. Again, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your amazing journey!

Bill