Beginning in July I will invite our parish to begin a discernment process asking the Holy Spirit to help us to see God’s plans for our parish.

We seek a prophetic vision.

A prophetic vision rises out of the heart of God. A prophetic vision pictures a future so outrageous, so vast, so out of reach that we would never think it possible. We would never attempt it. Only in the power of God and only under God’s direction does a prophetic vision have any hope for success.

In the book of Genesis God gave a prophetic vision to Abram.

“Go from your country, kindred and your father’s house and I will make of you a great nation.”

But I don’t even have one child. How can I possibly become a great nation?

“Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them,” the Lord said. “So shall your descendants be.”

In the book of Exodus God gave a prophetic vision to Moses.

“I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”

But who am I that Pharaoh would listen to me?

"But I will be with you;" the Lord said. "And this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

An old man, with no possibility of having children becomes the father of a multitude. A timid shepherd with one wooden staff and plenty of excuses becomes the Conqueror of the Egyptians and the Liberator of his people.

All the prophetic visions found in Scripture are impossible dreams but for one overriding reality. They rise up out of the heart of God.

I have asked our General Manager, Jim Tracy, to design a visioning process for the parish that will help us to discern the prophetic vision God has for us. Our visioning process will be a discernment process. It will invite us to listen to the Eternal Word speaking in the midst of us.

The Lord spoke to Abram and said: I will make of you a great nation.

The Lord spoke to Moses and said: I will send you to Pharaoh to set my people free.

The Lord spoke to the People of St. David’s Church and said: What?

I am praying our parish will hear the Eternal Word speaking in our midst, giving us a prophet vision that enables us to picture an outrageous future that has absolutely no hope for success...

except for the power of God at work through us.