Windows to a Future

What is the scariest part of beginning a new experience?  Not knowing what to expect.  When adults feel uninformed, then they feel incompetent.  When parents cannot help their children anticipate the next steps, then they feel they are letting their children down.  Several years ago, before GPS and iphones, my family moved to a new state.  Every time I took my kids to the next new event, play date, sports activity, or shopping I navigated by the book of maps that I faithfully kept in the car. Inevitably there were wrong turns and stops to check the map. Every time my daughter would anxiously ask, "Do you know where you are going?"  And my response was yes, but I need the map to get there.

The maps of today are supplied by technology. The location maps are in our cars and our pockets.  But there are other maps supplied by technology that can help us know what to expect from a new experience.

We can view a video to learn how a new kitchen appliance works. We can take a virtual tour around homes that are for sale.  We can listen to a conference speaker on that person's website to decide if the conference is worth  our efforts to attend.  We can try out songs on the internet to see if we want to purchase the music from that artist.

Through technology, we can supply maps to our congregations.  The two aspects of congregational life that consistently are mentioned as the most important are the music and the sermons.  Can people searching for a congregation or those who are new listen to sermons by podcast and a musical selection from last Sunday?  Could those searching for a spiritual home view a video about the worship of the community and its ministries?  Can our congregations be seen and heard, literally providing a map into a new experience via our websites?

Recently a mother and her two Sunday School age sons attended the Saturday evening service at our congregation.  She introduced herself when she entered and we were able to welcome her appropriately. She was looking for a church and a Sunday School for her family.  She found us through our website. I did the best I could to describe the character of the worship she was about to experience in contrast to Sunday morning. A video of the vibrancy of our Sunday School community and worship would have offered a vivid map!

Maps pointing the way to life of our congregation are available.  Are we prepared to provide maps to those who are looking for their way to find us?  Are we prepared to connect with them and with one another to create those maps?