At the 105th anniversary dinner on October 14th, Walter Von Dehsen, the current Vice President of the St. John’s Congregational Council, spoke about the vision that the council has for the future of St. John’s. Below is an excerpt from his talk.
“We hold the future of St. John’s in our hands. We have been given the responsibility to continue and extend the ministry of St. John’s into the future, into the community and into the world. For us to do this, it is now our turn to imagine the possibilities in front of us.
The Congregational Council is focused on our future and I would like to share with you the things that we are imagining as we go forward as a congregation.
We imagine that St. John’s will be a place where passionate spirituality abounds. Where the spiritual life of our members is characterized by prayer, enthusiasm, and boldness. Where Sunday worship is the cornerstone of our relationship with God, but not the full extent. Where all members of St. John’s are speaking to God in prayer and learning more about God through scripture though out the week.
We imagine that St. John’s will be a place where small group ministries thrive. Where it is as commonplace to gather in small groups for mutual ministry as it is to gather corporately on Sunday for worship. Where nurturing, support, ministry, and fellowship can be experienced more intimately in the regular gatherings of small groups.
We imagine that St. John’s will be a place where every member of the congregation has the opportunity and the responsibility to use their God given gifts to fulfill our ministry and to serve our community. Where support is available so each of us can discover our spiritual gifts and processes exist to assist members in effectively using those gifts at St. John’s and in the community at large.
We imagine that St. John’s will continue to grow in faith and in membership. That we can continue to be a beacon in the Mid Hudson Valley for spreading God’s word and the Good News of Jesus Christ. That one day we will outgrow our church here on Wilbur Blvd., just as we did the church on Cannon street.
While we imagine these things today, they can all become a reality in the future. They can all become part of the new history we are creating together here at St. John’s. They can all become part of the legacy that we leave the future members of the St. John’s congregation.
With God’s grace and guidance, the future of St. John’s is bright. May God bless us and keep us in his care as we go forward together.”