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When the Work Doesn’t Come with a Manual

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In training, our team of RIH facilitators reflected on the emergent and relational nature of the work ahead of us.

Because聽all we are about and all we hope to do is rooted in relationship, this work is inevitably unpredictable. Relationships = unpredictable!

Because聽this work is rooted in the uniqueness of each congregation鈥檚 context, it will inevitably take on diverse expressions in particular places. Place-based 鈮� 鈥渙ne size fits all鈥� approach!

child's hands building legos

Kristina compared it to her experience building Legos with her 5 year old daughter. What we would like is topick out the box of Legos on the shelf and say – 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we want to build!鈥� – and then set out to calmly and predictably move through each step of instructions. What this process is more like is the experience of a parent and child sitting down with the Legos working to create something new. It requires care, attentiveness and resourcefulness. It thrives with patience and creativity.

The work of being a public church in a life-giving relationship with the particularities of one’s neighborhood is discerned on the go, in real life, and often…one relationship at a time. There is no step by step manual (which would be nice!) But there is the promise of the Holy Spirit鈥檚 presence and guidance when we create the space for relationships to be fostered that teach us how to show up faithfully as neighbor in our places.