One of the questions to ponder as we posture toward the future at Friedens by turning to the community with a focus of serving younger people, is: How do we connect meaningfully with younger members and friends while honoring the long-term commitment of our older and most active members and friends?

Serving younger and older people is not an either/or but a both/and. We do both at Friedens. Of course, the long-term older members and friends have gotten us where we are today. Thank you! There is no future without younger members and friends getting more involved. Welcome! We need each other. We serve each other. We bless each other.

How shall we serve older and younger alike? One way to answer this question is to honor and bring forward the best from our rich tradition, while shaping these traditions in ways that meet new opportunities. For example, worship with inspiring music has always been a hallmark of Friedens UCC. The Tom Williams Memorial Music Fund has welcomed young musicians from area music schools to gain experience and learn in our excellent music ministry at Friedens. These students bring musical gifts and lively spirits that reinvigorate our congregation and enrich worship. Everyone is benefitted!

How can we replicate this experience in other areas of ministry at Friedens? Here are some ideas:

• We have a unique and beautiful pipe organ. How might we become a training ground for church organists that provides live music for the community beyond Sunday mornings and also helps to raise funds to preserve and maintain our pipe organ?

• Our sanctuary has received honors for its architectural design. It has been praised for its acoustics. The space has also been used in the past for concerts and recitals. What if we renewed this tradition and became a prominent venue for live music on the south side? Local music schools and excellent local high school music programs might be a great source for ensembles and choirs. Revenue could be directed toward maintenance of the sanctuary. All ages would benefit from this experience.

• Younger generations look to older generations to be mentored. What if we partnered with local colleges to connect our members and friends with business, education, health care and other skill sets to serve as mentors and life coaches to students?

What are your ideas to bring young and old together for mutual sharing and benefit? Please share those ideas with me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com and with our council president for 2022, Lisa Soard at lmsoard@gmail.com.

We have a hopeful future at Friedens. I am thankful to join you on this journey of renewal.

Yours in Christ,

Marc