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The Dream Team

This past Sunday, I asked you to pray, dream and plan with me about how we can begin to minister in the Park in our back yard, where Cuba comes to play.  Although there will be other avenues of discussion throughout the next couple of months; I hope to use this forum as a major way of sharing our dreams.  Let me be blunt, I do not believe that we can be fully in God's will as a church, unless we are in the park that He has placed us beside.

In brief, the following are some of the dreams that I have been dreaming re: our involvement through the park:

1. Building and donating a quality, safe and enjoyable piece of playground equipment.  Dream big; isn't the castle playground in Rushford awesome?!

2. Adopting a little league team.  Supplying uniforms, attending games, hosting ice cream socials for them at the church, etc.

3. Something as simple as painting all the existing equipment to make it look good again.

4. A big colorful sign on the North Park side of our church instead of that 1950's-looking brick sign that leans at about 15 degrees toward the east.  So that they actually see the church.

What are your dreams?  What would you like to see us do?

In Christ,

Jon

Posted by Pastor Jon on January 14, 2008 05:35 PM |

Comments

What do you think about having a carnival style family social with little skits and puppet presentations at the park? There could be different things for the different ages. But a focus on children and parents.

Posted by: Ashley | January 29, 2008 09:34 AM

Reading all the above....they are all awesome ideas. A sign would be good as long with sponsoring a team....but why dont we ( once nice weather hits ) have our sunday sermon right in the park...so all the people passing and watching can see how much fun we have learning and believing in God's grace, and how dedicated we are in Our Lord.

Posted by: john hollowell | February 2, 2008 09:25 PM

Check out the all wooden maze type playground equipment on the farthest end of Island Park in Wellsville, NY.

Posted by: Joe Laferriere | February 3, 2008 07:41 PM

I dont really know what type of events are there at the park during the summer months. maybe contact local sports leauges about providing concessions for their games. keeping it simple. hot dogs,sodas,candy,etc..

Posted by: Trey Bosson | February 4, 2008 01:36 PM

The Local board of Administration dreamed a little while together about possible ministry opportunities through the Park; here is the list that they generated: 1. Park Block Party 2. Wooden Playground 3. Worship in the Park 4. Bringing in the Hamburg Skate team for demos, competition and testimonies 5. An inflatables weekend for the kids 6. Purchasing signage on the home run fence 7. Involvement in the summer recreation program 8. Parents' time out during a church-sponsored vbs-style school at the park 9. Little League interaction of some sort (e.g, sponsoring a team, throwing an ice-cream social for the teams, going to the games, etc.) 10. Hosting a little league baseball clinic 11. Donating Equipment for the skate park 12. having our Second Place potlucks at the pavilion during the summer months. What are the rest of you dreaming about? In Christ, Jon

Posted by: Pastor Jon | February 6, 2008 10:12 AM

Chatting with my visionary buddy, Laurie, last night and picking each other's brains: During its "off-season," we could host a winter carnival in the park with a variety of games, activities, competitions...meet with LL coaches to get names of children whose families may need assistance purchasing baseball mits/shoes...offer "sit-upons" (cushions our church ladies can stich-up)) and sun visors to spectators...still thinkin'...to be continued...!

Posted by: Nina Perry | February 8, 2008 03:21 PM

My church in Rochester has hosted basketball camps in the summer. I don't know if you can rent baskets anywhere near Cuba, but they rent 10-15 portable baskets and set them up in the parking lot. They give devotions along with skills each night and on the last night have the parents come and have a three on three tournament. They have also had a soccer camp and I suppose a baseball camp would work too.

Posted by: Connie Lynch | February 25, 2008 11:32 AM

I think we should offer to plow the driveway near the park on south park street

Posted by: Joe Laferriere | February 27, 2008 07:12 PM

I am not too great at this sort of thing, but I think the dugouts look dingy and I think it would be nice if someone creative could paint a mural type photo on the dugouts that capture Cuba in some way or the game and make them brighter looking and not so dark inside. Also, the bleachers need help and the players benches. Maybe resow the grass in the actual playing area?

Posted by: Linda Exton | March 7, 2008 11:20 AM

The Little League Season in Cuba always starts off with a parade followed by the first game. All the teams (including the girls softball teams that don't usually play on this field) and their families are there for the parade and the opening day ceremony. That would be a great time to have an event and reach the most people.

Posted by: Shannon Wallace | March 27, 2008 09:07 PM

How about a community lawn sale. (Maybe near Memorial Day, the fourth of July or Labor Day... or not) Everyone could bring what they want to get rid of. We can give an option of donating a portion of the proceeds to the park/park equipment,the Cuba Council of Churches or maybe the food pantry. It could be a yearly event. Of course we would follow it up with a picnic. Then whatever doesn't get sold we can arrange to haul it away to either the dump or the Salvation Army. Another idea is to form adult softball teams from within the community. It would be an opportunity to form relationships with our community, gain trust, and perhaps share the Love of Christ!(Oh and while the adults are playing, we would provide child care for their kids in the park as well!) Hey Ashley/Choir/Prime Timers how about a Singspiration in the park on a summer evening? Or perhaps songs and stories around a campfire. Maybe we could make some smores too, if we can have a campfire.

Posted by: Megan Cusumano | March 31, 2008 07:44 AM

I know that the park says closed after dark, but maybe we could get special permission from the town to have a parents and kids camp out in the park. We could have a fire and roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Everyone could come and pitch their tents or just sleep under the stars. It would be so much fun!

Posted by: Annie Cusumano | April 1, 2008 01:38 PM

Players in the Park! Every saturday have skits or talent type show with a theme. Put up a little stage and do modern day depictions of bible stories.

Posted by: Ashley Ward | April 20, 2008 08:01 PM

Just to let you know North Park folks how much we thank you and appreciate our time here with you this July 2008. From the time we joined you during our Wednesday fellowship this week and up until today and until Friday next week (July 9 to 17), we are being tremendously blessed! You all are very caring and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ do shine in your hearts! We have enjoyed our time with you and have been refreshed in the mission home (including the visits to several families) and we are returning to the field of ASIA invigorated, knowing there are passionate ministry partners like you who keep on working with us for kingdom-building overseas. Blessings and keep the great ministry! From the Caringals

Posted by: Caringals - Romy, Linda, Hannah and Nathan | July 11, 2008 01:52 PM

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