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A Rich Past, A Rebirth
The Rebirth of Norton Heights – How did we get here?
Faced with a closed building due to Covid restrictions and fewer participants and resources in the life of the congregation, we knew we needed to have difficult conversations about the future of Norton Heights. We requested help from Katie Harmon-McLaughlin and Dustin Davis, who facilitated our process of discernment from August through December, 2021. Discernment really means looking, listening, noticing, imagining, dreaming, questioning, trying, and evaluating what has happened through our eyes and through the movements of the Holy Spirit.
For five months a small group of us from NH met with Katie, Dustin and Allen Keeler from the mission center to prayerfully discern the way forward. The question we arrived at for our focus was “Being informed by our collective experience, how shall we (Norton Heights Community of Christ) continue to align ourselves with God’s ongoing vision in light of our present challenges moving forward into the future?”. We wanted to honor the ministry of all those who came before us at NH as we responded to God’s invitations, while acknowledging that things have changed, times have changed, and we have changed.
The process was not easy, but we were truly blessed. We were blessed with hope, and an assurance that “God isn’t finished with us yet”. Out of that hope and assurance, and the testimony of Amber and Lashandra’s sense of calling to bring ministry to their own families and others, we knew that we had to do our best to offer to children and their families the same kind of loving care our young adult leaders remember experiencing in their growing up.
What is God up to at Norton Heights? Children are finding a safe and loving place to learn about God and Jesus. Families are coming together, friends are accepting invitations, old friends are finding their way back home, forgiveness and healing and new beginnings are all being extended and received.
Is there a place for you? For your family and friends? For your giftedness and sense of calling to God and your community? Yes!!! All are welcome to come as they are, and find safety, love and a place to call home. Welcome home Norton Heights!
--Kris Judd
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