Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords.
And strengthen your pegs.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.

We have almost 675 members.  I think I know 200 of you, and you are wonderful to know.  We miss each other at worship, in Bible study, in education classes, at choir practice, on Lay Ministry night, at the AIDS concert and on Fall clean-up day.  One day we will all show up, and the next day, and the day after.

Imagine the day we will all show up!  There won’t be enough room in the choir loft, we will need folding chairs throughout the sanctuary; we will run out of bulletins the church school classes will be short on materials.  Before you know it we will have waiting lists for elders and deacons, lay ministries and church school teachers...on that day we all show up.  This is how we will lengthen our cords and strengthen our pegs.  Once we have done so, the flaps of our tents will open wide, to the right and to the left.

Our diverse community will be drawn to us.

• ESOL and GED classes will keep Memorial Hall and classrooms busy with adult students and BHPC tutors.

• The nursery school will support daycare for low-income children of nearby restaurant and hospital workers.

• We will be strong and confident in the New Testament message of social justice.  Elected officials will want to know where we stand on the important issues of the day because we will speak for justice with a strong and confident voice.

• We will buy the house next door and create a home for BHPC members with disabilities so they may remain part of our Christian family.

• Worship and music will reflect the colors and experiences of our members.

We will know each other because we worship and pray and learn together under this tent.  We will grow deep and wide.  And our stewardship will support our vision.

Elder Becky Wagner