This week I received via email a newsletter for church leaders which began with this question: "Can you hear it? Can you feel the rumble of your church’s program train pulling out of the station and beginning to barrel down the track?” In my head (maybe even out loud in my office), I answered with a resounding, “yes!” After a wonderful summer pause during which the church has been relatively quiet, things have begun to ramp up again in earnest as we plan for the program year to begin. And there are lots of wonderful plans: all-church fellowship events, music and education opportunities for all ages, a new sermon series, stewardship conversations with members and outreach partners — and that’s just in September! Which is why I was glad to read the other question in that newsletter: Why are we doing all this?