What’s your BHAG?

Big Hairy Audacious Goal, that’s a BHAG! In a church that finds itself questioning its role in society, visioning for the future, trying to expand its membership and maintain its budget, it is important to not forget to dream new dreams for the church as well. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus reminds his followers that we cannot put new wine in old skins, because the old skins will burst and the fruits of the labour will be lost.

What might that look like for the church? It’s about honouring our church traditions because they help us to understand who and whose we are, and about being open to the infusion of gifts our communities have to share with us. Sometimes the old wineskins of our traditions cannot fully contain the infusion of new wine being poured out by the gospel. Jesus calls us to consider the new wine as we dream the future of the church, trusting the durability of the old wineskins to hold our values. What if finances were not an issue, or you had more volunteers then you could imagine and the sky was the limit? What would your faith-filled wineskin, Big Hairy Audacious Goal for the church you love look like?

God of wonder, create in us new wineskins that burst forth with your love and grace for the world. Amen. — TLR