the vision

I’m back. After a graciously granted sabbatical, I have resumed my regular duties at Holy Trinity. I want to say, once again, “Thank you!” The foresight and care that the congregation shows in having a sabbatical policy in place is more than appreciated. It is essential. 

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As I return, I find myself reconnoitering with the mission, values, beliefs, and vision of the congregation to re-root myself in our work together. As I meditated on our vision statement, I was struck by two things. First, that statement uses the words of St. Teresa of Avila, and this past Tuesday was her festival day. Way back in the 16th century this Spanish nun schooled the church, run by men, in what it meant to pray. She also shared a vision of being a follower of Christ in a way that still grabs me by the heart. Second, I was struck by the way this vision statement we all worked to develop has aged – it still articulates something to strive for that is relevant and compelling.

The vision statement itself simply says: “The Open Arms of Jesus: ​The people of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church strive to emulate and incarnate the open arms of Jesus Christ as he revealed God's love by embracing the broken, welcoming the outcast, and giving his life on the cross.” Then Teresa’s words inspire

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours  - Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

The “flesh” we placed on this frame was to state what we’re about. I share it again so you can join me, I hope, in recommitting to what our vision calls us to do.

We propose that what the Des Moines metro area, and specifically Ankeny, need is not another cookie cutter attempt to give people what they want.  Nor does Ankeny need another congregation committed to preserving its past; to institutional “survival” that ultimately leads to death. There are enough examples of both around us. We propose that Ankeny needs

• A congregation that honors the ancient traditions of the church while it presents them in ever new ways, to an ever-changing community.
• A congregation where people can find not just the latest spiritual fads but find a path to spiritual growth and maturity that touches their broken places, offers meaning and hope for every day, and roots people in a faith that is both ancient and future.
• A congregation that proclaims a message of God’s love and grace revealed in Christ and his people in a way that seriously welcomes those who have been unwelcome for a host of reasons; loves those who are hard to love; embraces those who have been beat up by the church’s judgmental words; ministers to those who have been, for whatever reason, dismissed disenfranchised, disaffected by, and become disgusted with the church because they did not find good news;
• A congregation that becomes known as THE place that doesn’t just care about the hungry, but makes a difference in their lives, locally, national and globally and offers those in need the opportunity to be welcomed and grow in faith and the ability to live each day.
• A congregation that passes on the faith to a new generation in a way that makes a difference in the lives of the participants and the whole world.
• A congregation that cares more about growing disciples than about growth in membership numbers.
• A congregation that equips people to live and serve in the congregation and the world according to their gifts and skills instead of the congregation’s demands.
• A congregation that embodies the open arms of Christ on the cross in all it says and does.

This vision can change us as individuals and as a congregation. This vision can change the world.

Pax Christi,
​Tim Olson – Lead Pastor