Pastor's Messages

A Message From Pastor Cris

I spent my vacation working at Camp Nawakwa. It was great to return to the place that has been such a big part of my life. A big part of my responsibilities for the week was helping to build a porch on one of the cabins in Upper Camp. Some of you have told me you have a connection to Nawakwa – some going back to a long time ago. If you’ve been to Nawakwa before and went back today you would still recognize much of what is there. The Assembly Hall and Library/Crafts Hall are original. The lodges that have been built over a span of 60+ years are much like they were when they were first built – with a few renovations. Almost all of the cabins are the original cabins that were built over 80 years ago, but have also been updated in several ways. At some point, bathrooms were added onto the backs of the cabins to provide more comfort. Now, in the latest round of improvements, all of the Lower Camp Cabins (approximately 30) and 3 of the 10 Upper Camp Cabins have been given porches on the front. These porches provide a welcome spot for campers to relax and get out of the rain.

You may be wondering why I’ve shared this story about Nawakwa’s history. It occurred to me as we worked on some ideas regarding Sunday School that much of what we’re doing today is like the physical renovations happening at Nawakwa. Nawakwa’s key buildings and cabins are sound, useful, and full of history. Not since the late 1970’s when Nawakwa was in crisis has anyone suggested removing the cabins for another option. My kids have slept in the same cabins that I slept in as a staff member while in college; the same cabins I slept in as a young camper; and likely the same cabins some of our senior members slept in many years ago – going all the way back to 1937 when Mabel Pearl was a Nawakwa camper.

It is comforting to know that these cabins have provided a home for so many over the years and are filled with such wonderful tradition. Our Sunday School has a similar tradition – full of joy for so many who have been a part of it in a variety of ways. We are now trying to do the philosophical equivalent of building a bathroom on the back and a porch on the front of a Nawakwa cabin. No one wants to tear down the history that we have with a successful and thriving Sunday School. But, we need to make some updates to engage those who have not been a part of our Sunday School before. We have begun a minor “redecorating” of what has seen life as a preschool room and Senior High Sunday School class room. The carpeted room off of the Social Room will soon see new life as “Zion’s Café”. The Senior High class has gladly agreed to move to the Youth House – into a space that is specifically designed and welcoming for them as we create a space for our parents who are not currently a part of Sunday School. Some of our parents drop their kids off for class and leave to return home, or go elsewhere for casual conversation. Our hope is to provide a place for that casual conversation within our church building – and give them an opportunity to connect with other parents.

The vision we have for this space is to provide a casual, welcoming, comfortable space for these people to engage in a new type of learning – focused on the connections they can make with others.

Like the cabins of Nawakwa, the core of what we do – the living space in the middle – will remain in place. We will still be working to have engaging Sunday School classes for all ages. The tradition will continue. What we’re adding is the “porch” – the new space that adds more function to what we do now – a new place for those whose needs aren’t being met and who haven’t found a place.

As we move forward with 270 years of tradition, we are starting a whole new way to “Share Christ’s Love from One Generation to Another.” I can’t wait to see what we can do with this new space. If you haven’t found a home for Sunday School – stop into the café, have a cup of coffee and a quick snack. Make a connection with someone you don’t know, or reconnect with someone you know well. Most importantly, make sure you invite someone to come with you. Zion’s Café will be a place of lively conversation and new opportunities to be the people of God.