Predicting the future

By Laura Black in All Sorts

some thoughts on facing an unknown future

The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Over the last few months the parish has been looking to its future. There are conversations that have to be had about buildings of course, but more importantly, about what it is the Parish wants to be and do.
Whether you think you can or think you can't; you're right.
Watching from the sidelines, I've been really impressed with the honesty, commitment and courage of those who've joined in the
conversations. It is really hard work trying to figure out 20-30 year decisions.
It's tough enough at the Mission and there's only one of me in charge! In the Parish, you are all responsible.
If you're not prepared to be wrong you will never come up with anything original.
But you've also been willing to be ambitious, which is fantastic. You are ambitious for our church, for your faith, and for the world around us; an immensely Methodist trait.
Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.
You have also expressed ambition for the work of the Mission. Thank you.
The Parish already provides considerable support to our work, for which we are immensely grateful. We know that you cheer our successes. The MWF supply the most wonderful knitted goods for new families through our Early Years Hub. There are those who volunteer at our centres. Some of you give money.
Over the last 7+ years I have been Director at the Mission, I have been asked - fairly regularly - what more the Parish could do to help.
Your donations are a huge help to our clients, both in our work and the Methodist Women's Fellowship Family Support Fund that we administer, and make a very real difference.
But with volunteering requests I have always been frustrated by my answer: not yet, not that, maybe ...
There are no right answers to wrong questions.
I wonder if we have all been asking the wrong question. It is hard for you to be personally involved in our work - we have accreditation and contract obligations, obligations to existing staff, and our reporting requirements beggar belief.
I wonder if there is a better question:
What work could the PARISH be doing amongst, with, or for those who are needy, that the MISSION could help with?
Now this is a much easier question for the Mission to respond to. Our answer: ALMOST ANYTHING! Let us know: we'll be there.
Seriously. Let us know.
With thanks to: Peter Drucker, Henry Ford, Sir Ken Robinson, Margaret Mead, and Ursula Le Guin, for the quotes.
Laura Black