This is Skyline. Where the light of God's hope dawns.

This first week of Advent at Skyline, my days were filled with a mixed bag of prayers, a hospital visit, scripture study, several meetings and calls to members and friends of the church and another pastor, as well as a negotiation with a contractor for tree removal and some slight assistance for the repair of our boiler. After Sunday's miraculous worship filled with baptism, music and celebration, the days of the rest of the week have been a decided mix of the mundane and routine by comparison.

A pastor and member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Wilmington have invited me to participate in their series of Lenten reflections next Spring, entitled "God's Inclusive Love: No Limits" primarily because they had heard of our decision to welcome LGBT persons with open arms at Skyline. Our conversation has become a time of reflection for me of the cost and the blessing of following One who calls us to bear a cross for love of the world. I have especially been drawn to the many stories of refugees from the war of hatred and exclusion who have been drawn to our community of faith, and who have transformed both our community and our experience of God's love and grace.

My favorite statements include one who celebrated the community "saving his life", another who shared that our community had revived her nearly extinguished hope that she could love Jesus among a community of people who loved Jesus - and who loved her. When I am troubled by the thoughts of the cost of our discipleship, I remember those who had given up on the church and who came to experience God again among us. Several Sundays ago, a friend put his arm around me, looked back into the sanctuary full of followers of Jesus and said: "They won't let God die, will they?!"

This is Skyline. Where the light of God's hope dawns.

We met with a truncated Staff Parish Relations Committee Tuesday evening to draft a Profile of our church for the Bishop and Cabinet to review as they consider whom to appoint as pastor of Skyline in July 2010 (for the past 13 years, the Bishop has appointed Vicki and me to serve for another year here). We prepare the Profile every year, and this year we celebrated some miraculous ministries, hopes, and descriptions of the people God has gathered into a church called Skyline.

What are the ministries we celebrate here and hope to expand?

Contemporary, experiential worship services; diverse music ministry; outreach to unchurched people in a postmodern context; children’s ministry that celebrates the presence and participation of children in worship and in the life of the church
We hope to expand our outreach to all persons seeking a deeper relationship with God, especially those who are marginalized in society and in the church; youth ministry in and beyond the church; and serving as the “town center” for the community of Pike Creek.

what are the short-term ministry goals at Skyline: (1) Youth Skate Park; (2) Outreach and Advocacy Ministry for Justice Issues in our Community; (3) Volunteer Center for Missions; (4) Mentoring ministry for at-risk youth; (5) Wellness Center for spiritual and physical health; (6) Alternative Worship in an emergent/post-modern style and setting.

What are the pastoral characteristics most helpful in Skyline's ministry?

Flexibility, delegation, and empowerment of lay partners in creating experiential, contemporary worship; openness to receive Christians who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered as full members of the church; ability to nurture all members toward expressing God’s calling in their lives in and beyond the church; embracing shared ministry with laity, in a church that celebrates the dispersion of power and initiative.

On Wednesday evening, I gathered with the the choir to rehearse a song they will sing during our Festival of Light concert next Saturday, Dec. 12 at Skyline. After sharing and celebrating our joys and concerns in prayer, we sang a celebration not only of the birth of the Christ child at Christmas, but in every heart and in every moment of our lives. We sing in the hope that our song will bring God glory and draw especially those people who have given up on hope.

This is Skyline. Where the light of God's hope dawns.