Winter 2024
WAYNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WAYNE PRESS
www.waynepres.org
HONORING OUR PAST, CELEBRATING TODAY, SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER A LETTER FROM PASTOR RYAN BALSAN Dear friends, Someone recently shared a history of the Wayne Presbyterian Church with me. It was written in 1970 commemorating our 100th Anniversary. Leafing through that book reminded me of something important: the Church has always lived in changing, challenging times. The task of the Church is to live faithfully in the moment, holding to our convictions and commitments and adapting to changing times. As I looked at that history, I saw that Wayne is a congregation that has a long tradition of faithfully adapting to an ever-changing world, seeking to be faithful in each season. It is easy to see changes and adaptation when one looks at history over 100 years, but in any given moment in time, it is hard to see how we are changing. Transformation is gradual, and we often don’t discern the shifts, changes and adaptations we make except by looking back. One of my tasks as your relatively new pastor is to learn about this congregation. Part of that is by learning our church’s
history and the values and ideas that shape us and our ministry. Another of my tasks is to help us learn how to adapt and live out our faith in this moment and in the future. In my first few months I have been amazed, but not surprised, at the resilience and strength of this congregation in the past, and it gives me hope for our future. In this season of listening and learning about WPC, I have been leaning on something one of my mentors, Tod Bolsinger, taught me. Leaders need to have two perspectives – the view from the dance floor and the view from the balcony. The view from the dance floor is the perspective at the ground level. It is where all the action happens. To be on the dance floor at church means to be in the midst of everything that is going on. Through worship, making connections at coffee hour, showing up at a youth ministry event, visiting the Common Place, experiencing the Oratorio Society in action and hearing your stories about the impact of this congregation has given me a glimpse into the dance floor at WPC. It is an active and engaged place! [continued on next page]
We hope you enjoy this issue of the Wayne Press, which highlights many recent events and upcoming programs, but it can’t cover everything we do! Please visit waynepres.org regularly for more information and updates. Also visit the online Member Portal or contact the Church office to keep your membership records updated to make sure you receive our publications.