Ten years ago, on June 1st, I began my ministry with the Church of the Palms, and what a transformative journey it has been. Together, we have co-created a community that truly reflects the Kin-dom of God. It has never been about one person; it is about the power of us—a collective moving in spirit to answer our call for justice and love. As we look back, here are ten milestones that define our shared path:
- Articulating Our Identity: We crafted a mission statement that acts as our foundation: “Sharing God’s Unconditional Love, Justice, and Extravagant Welcome.”
- Radical Inclusion: We didn’t just talk about welcome; we lived it. From raising the Rainbow and Progressive Pride flags to our joyful presence at the Pride Parade and Rainbow Festival, and our sacred observations of ONA Sunday and Transgender Day of Remembrance.
- Dignity on Wheels: We expanded our outreach by purchasing a new bus and the shower trailer for our Feet-N-More ministry. Our commitment to housing justice remained steadfast through IHELP and our various sheltering partnerships.
- Holistic Wellness: We became a W.I.S.E. congregation (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged for Mental Health), proving our resilience by not just surviving the pandemic, but finding new ways to thrive and connect.
- The Gift of Music: We enriched our liturgical life with a new organ and a beautiful grand piano, ensuring our worship continues to be soulful and vibrant.
- Stewarding Our Space: We modernized our infrastructure—from chillers and boilers to six new A/C units—while prioritizing the safety of our community with updated security and entry systems.
- Growing Our Leadership: We celebrated the ordinations and welcomed the unique gifts of Jim Alexander, Debby Stinton, and Pastor Mark to our staff.
- Creation Justice: We took bold steps toward sustainability by installing solar panels and LED lighting, adding water bottle refill stations, and dedicating ourselves to Creation Justice Sundays.
- Expanding Our Reach: We revitalized our campus with a new glass sanctuary entrance, improved lighting, and state-of-the-art A/V equipment to ensure our message is accessible to everyone, everywhere.
- Sacred Spaces: We deepened our spiritual landscape by installing our Labyrinths, the Homeless Jesus sculpture, the Pet Memorial, alongside a complete renovation of our Chapel.
And the Spirit keeps moving…
Beyond this list, we have deepened our social justice advocacy, renovated the Fountain Patio, doubled our endowment to ensure a sustainable future, and modernized our constitution and bylaws. Our digital sanctuary has also flourished, allowing us to reach a wider “online” congregation than ever before.
Wow! The Spirit is truly doing marvelous things through this community. I am so grateful to be on this journey with you.
Of these many milestones, which one has most deeply impacted your own spiritual journey at Church of the Palms?
Shalom, Paul