Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!!! Oh my heavens what a night! What a year. Our Christmas Eve service tonight marks a years since we first began gathering as a community of faith at the coffee house. It was a Holy night tonight, beautiful music and beautiful people, the Christmas story--the love of God made known to us in the little baby boy. And we laughed and we cried and listened and sang and some of it was familiar and some of it was new and God was there in the coffee shop and the light of Christ was lifted up and people were shining with God's love--amazing and real and holy. Thank you to all of our readers and singers and set-up and take down and our worship crowd---it will not happen without all of us! Thank you God for Kirkwood UCC and alllllllll the people that you claim in this church that is becoming. Thank you God for loving us so much. Thank you my kind friends, sisters and brothers for all of your prayers as we seek to be the community of faith that God is calling us to be...keep them coming. You know that I pray for you every day. Love you.

BTW 63 people crammed into the coffee shop!

Is it really November?

Oh, it has been so long since I have been blogging. I'm feeling fairly certain I'm the only one worried about it--but I feel like I owe to our process--I'm working on it!

Autumn has happened since I last blogged--Sept, Oct, and now in the middle of Nov--how does it pass so quickly? God has been faithful in this busy season--God is always faithful. Our faith community has gathered for worship, for outreach, for Bible Study that has been just incredible--really, we've been studying the book of Acts--the early church and talking about our church--our lives our journey--it has been good. Our last monthly gathering will happen on the 18th of November, and then we will begin worshiping every Sunday on December 2--the first Sunday of Advent. I am very excited and nervous about this shift, but I feel like and the community too feels like it's time to move forward and to worship on a weekly basis. Please pray for us--please pray for God's will to continue to be lived out faithfully in this church that is becoming--please pray that we continue to be open day by day to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of this faith community.

My days are still full of coffee and milk runs and we have been praising God for cooler weather!!!! Folks have been showing up more and more buying big LATTE coffees--I do thank God for our coffee drinking brothers and sisters--they are great people--great people who show such kindness and support of Gathering Grounds. I invite most of them to church and some have taken my up on it, some are willing to talk with me about it---some are of other faith traditions and some are not interested--all of them (well most all of them) reach out in support in some way and it means so much.

This work--this new church planting work is so different than my past church experience--new in so many ways---for better and worse. Please continue to pray for me---the Lord knows I need it. I pray for you--I do--believe me wherever you are whomever you are--I know I need to grow and love and I'm working on it--everyday--I promise. God is faithful, right--always. There's more to come--lots more. Praise the Lord. S

So, now I am sitting in 311 in Bishop's Hall at Emory. I had several classes in here, several years ago. It's good to be back. I am in the middle of the Church Planting Conference (that's what we're doing y'all--planting a new church) sponsored by the UCC http://www.ucc.org/ http://www.secucc.org/ check those out--one of them is talking about you.



Anyhow, I am here and have been since Tuesday morning. Just today, I have heard from a black pastor in Chicago at the fastest growing UCC churhc, next from a gay man born and reared in South Georgia as a United Methodist, now serving the largest LGBT UCC in church in the nation (Cathedral of Hope Dallas TX) and now from Yvette Flunders, City of Refuge UCC, San Fran reaching out to people (all people) living on the margins in that city and starting small ministries all over the nation. WOW! I am overwhelmed and it is awesome (thank you erica)!

And then, this is just a portion of what this week has been. I can't talk about it all right now--it's just too much, but it is good to be with about 20 other pastor/planters who are attempting to do what we are attempting to do--reach out in love and kindness--forgive and be forgiven--give and receive grace--remember how much God loves us--how much God loves all people---serve and love others--I do believe that is what we want to be about and I thank God, I thank God for the opportunity to be in this with you. I love you and I thank God for you--and for this UCC church.

The Revival Week!

Well I didn't follow up very well with my revival blog. It was incredible to be at Johnson UMC for 5 days, with my mama (daddy was at the beach at conference...poor guy) with people from my home church that I love so much. Mama and I went on several walks, behind the house and out at the farm, we had a lovely luncheon with some folks from Johnson, we attended a lovely luncheon with my neighbor Miss Carolyn and several women that I grew up with (in their 80's) playing bridge for three hours that afternoon! There wasn't a single day that I didn't eat chicken salad and some sort of congealed salad (buttermilk, tomato aspic, cucumber, etc...) cheezies and coca cola. I loved that! Oh yes and, I did love being at church every night, singing hymns that mean so much, hugging and seeing people that I love so dearly, meeting new people praise the Lord and their coming to church---it was awesome! My friends and singing partners Laura and Rachel came Wednesday night and we sang for and with the crowd at Johnsons, we got home stayed up late and giggled--I felt like we were in highschool. It was good to be home, it was good to be at church, it was good to be gathered with God's people night after night.

I was able to tell them about y'all--about this church that is becoming. I'm not sure they quite get it--understand more like it. Seriously, what we are doing is not so easy to take in--not when we present it to folks who already have an idea of what church is, who God is, what God thinks about others--others that may not look and feel and seem and live exactly as they do...God is wide--wider than any of us give God credit for. God's love is deeper than any of us know---any of us. Everyday I struggle to figure out what God is doing in us, through us and some days it is clearer than others---when I think about you--picture you, our work together, our worship together, conversations, emails, singing...it is clearer. I thank God for you and can't wait to be with you on Sunday!

Oh the past several weeks...

Well, now my journal makes perfect sense…all those days blank--empty in between the days that I would write in it. Here are many of the in between days.

Arriving home from the UCC General Synod, was followed directly by a house sale and a house purchase in Historic Kirkwood about two blocks from the coffee shop---who’s been walking to work!

Then suddenly it was the work and worship weekend and it was incredible! About 12 of us met at Alex’s house over on 2nd avenue and helped to renovate, restore, renew his yard—front and back. Well, and it helped that Ainsley was with us, ummm she’s owns her own landscaping company—very talented and successful! I was so very proud of our crew! We had lunch with Alex on his porch and tried as best we could to tell him about our church that is becoming—he’s curious and I feel certain will come and worship with us soon.

I’m curious, too about our church that is becoming. And so on Sunday, we gathered at the new house and crammed into the living room, dining room kitchen and hall way to worship, to pray, to read scripture and to talk honestly about our community of faith. We began by sharing some of our own faith stories, about the many ways that we want to be close to God, but the many things that get in the way of that. We talked about how we can truly be a welcoming community of believers that are honest and authentic and live out what we claim to believe. We want our church to be more diverse and inclusive—let’s just say it out loud!!! We need more men. I suppose many churches are in that boat as the women usually run the church anyway, but the truth is, we need more people, so that our witness, our learning, our prayer, our life together will be richer.

I felt the power of the Holy Spirit at work that afternoon. God has given us a vision for a church that loves and serves this community around Kirkwood. And a church that loves and cares for others, wherever they/we are in our faith journey. God is deep and wide and the more we are willing to put ourselves out there—vulnerable in many ways—we too can experience the wide-ness and deep-ness of God—and it is awesome—God is awesome in the truest sense of that word.

We are hoping and praying that our next gathering might happen in a neighborhood church. Our brother Kenny Cook is working hard to negotiate with some folks about letting us rent space on Sunday afternoons—it’s more room and we will be able to accommodate more folks and our little ones that join us on Sunday afternoons. I am praying this is the right next step—I hope you will be in prayer with me too. God has been so faithful—always and I trust that if this needs to work out, it will. If not, God will provide and I know the Kirkwood UCC crowd will be prepared for whatever God has in store for us.

Oh, and of course we ended our worship together with food! Cup cakes to be exact—delicious cup cakes—You go Kelly!

I preached that following Wednesday at Candler with their course of study folks. It is always good to be in that space and to offer a word to sisters and brothers who are in the midst of serving God in the local church. I am very thankful for that crowd.

This past weekend I officiated at a wedding of some friends I met during Katrina. St. Paul set up a make shift shelter to care for people after the devastation of the hurricane and we ended up living with a family of about 15 for a month or two. They were courageous people and we were blessed to be a part of their lives and from this family and friends that came to Atlanta, one friendship turned into a romance into a marriage!!!! And I was invited to officiate. It was a great evening—Lisa and Ellis were so happy and in love and it was beautiful.

Now, Monday afternoon, I find myself in Warrenton Georgia getting ready to preach the second night of a 4 night revival. Oh I forget how much I love to preach and to be in the pulpit. I am tired after several long weeks, but this feels good and right and reviving of my soul. I thank the crowd at Johnson UMC for having me and I thank God for never letting me go. And, I am gathering some pretty fantastic stories—I’ll tell you about them in the next couple of days.

Good Sunday Morning

Good Sunday morning my friends. Hope this beautiful day is finding you very well. It’s clear, sunny and 76 degrees in lovely downtown Connecticut. This is a nice city, but I am very ready to come home to mine. I’m outta here tomorrow morning and back in Atlanta by the afternoon---hallelujah!

Today is the Welcome Sunday for the moving ministers in the UMC. Susan Allen-Grady will be preaching her first sermon at St. Paul today---many, many prayers for a Holy and Spirit filled and wonderful day! My mama and daddy have a new preacher at Warrenton UMC the Rev. Purvis—lots of prayers for them, too and all the other first sermons that will be shared today. Oh, it’s hard to think about sometimes—to even believe it sometimes, but let me just say it one more time. God is faithful, and I believe that God has plans for us—for a future and a hope. So, I’m off this morning to hear a good word from a UCC minister at a UCC church that was founded in 1756---that’s crazy and the church is beautiful and I’m hoping for some good hymns J John Thomas preaches this afternoon—he’s one of God’s own with a powerful and prophetic voice, I’m anxious to hear what God will say through him today. I’ll let you know. I know many of my sisters and brothers are celebrating in the park today—you are in my thoughts and prayers. Many blessing on all of you my awesome Kirkwood UCCers. Love you, miss you thank the Lord for you, S

And as a closing visual, you must know that I am able to wear and unbelieveable amount of pink, green and plaid…but even I am overwhelmed at the outfit I have on today!

Saturday night Celebration

As my friend Erica Ray loves to say… “Awesome”… today was Awesome—that’s the best way to describe the celebration. Bill Moyer may be my new hero---awesome and courageous and faithful could describe his speech this morning. We are fortunate to have him as a leader in the press and the news arena and as a member of the UCC—he is a man of God who is trying to live out his faith everyday. And then there was Barack Obama---wow he is truly a charismatic leader in the best meaning of that word. His enthusiasm is contagious and genuine. He talked a lot about his faith, his belief in Jesus Christ, his commitment to live out his faith in the public arena. He didn’t say everything that the UCC church wanted to hear, but he was honest and confident about what he did have to say and I have to say he’s got my vote. He talked about what it means to stand up for what is right and he praised the UCC for its leadership and commitment of a prophetic Christian witness in our country. And then, the 50 year bold celebration was tonight, and there was singing and dancing and conversations with the first people that united this church in 1957. There was an introduction of a white minister who walked and talked with Martin Luther King in Memphis and Alabama and many others who have helped to shape this church. It was helpful and exciting and hopeful to see and hear wand witness so many faithful Christians striving to make a real difference in this world.

Now, I’m not completely starry eyed about it all—I still have plenty of reservations and frustrations with this denomination, but I do believe they/we are seeking to live out what we talk about—what we believe. John Thomas, the President of the UCC spoke a couple of weeks ago about God calling us to Evangelical Faith (honest, authentic, loving, risky faith) instead of Respectable Religion (nice, sweet, always balanced, never offensive, easy for all…tolerant). I’ve thought about this a lot lately and where and how that makes sense for me and for our church that is becoming. I have seen this Evangelical Honest and Authentic Faith lived out this week and I am filled with hope for who God is calling me/us to be, how God is calling us to live out our faith, and why God is still speaking…there are people who don’t know how much God loves them, how Jesus wants to be in relationship with us, and how God’s mercy and grace and forgiveness and love can be so very real in and through the Holy Spirit, the Church and in relationship with each other. Oh my friends, we have so much ahead…I am reminded everyday---a hundred times a day the words of God from the prophet Jeremiah, “for I know the plans I have for you…to give you a future and a hope.” Thanks be to God. Praying for you, love you, miss you, S

Chilly Saturday Morning

Well, who knew that it got so bright outside so early in Connecticut! Yep, I forgot to shut the blinds last night and the Lord woke me up EARLY this morning. Guess what the temperature is in Hartford…54 degrees, the high today will be around 78. I’ll be sure a take my little sweater wrap J

Last night was really special, gathered with about 6000 other UCCers I walked with the other new church start pastors as we presented our new churches to the Synod. It was awesome to see Kirkwood UCC bigger than life up on the screen—I just wish y’all could’ve been up there with me—one day!

The morning yesterday held a remarkable time of sharing stories of new churches---the joys and challenges. It was encouraging hearing others speak of their experiences, clergy and lay alike, investing so much in the hope of something becoming. They were all clear about the time and patience and faithfulness it takes when God is doing a new thing…but God will be faithful—always!

I am headed back into the city, which is about a 20 min walk or a 5 min ride on the shuttle bus. This is the BIG 50th year celebration. Bill Moyers will kick off the speakers this morning—I think he is a UCCer—I’m looking forward to hearing him. Then several writers, speakers, artists will be presenting throughout the city and there will be a festival of sorts in the local park. It’s really pretty around here with the river so close by; I will enjoy taking it all in. And then, this afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama will be the key note speaker. He is a UCCer and will be talking of course about election stuff, but also about his faith and how it impacts who he is and the decisions he makes.

It’s going to be a full day—I wish you were here! Back in the ‘hood, I understand that the Kirkwood Wine Stroll was a great success for the Kirkwood Business District. Gathering Grounds was packed at several different times throughout the evening—I am grateful to all of you that helped out and participated in different ways—I am certain that it takes a village to run a coffee shop! Kirkwood UCC had an add in the wine book—“whomever you are…wherever you are on lifes journey, you are always welcome at Kirkwood UCC.” Then there was an image of the Lord’s Supper, a cup and hunck of bread and the text right under read, “we’ve been drinking good wine for over 2000 years.” we’re reaching out into our community that is what we are called to do!

You know I’m proud of you, praying for you everyday and I thank God for you. Love you, S

Friday AM

It’s early Friday morning and I’m looking forward to the day. We will begin with more new church development work, followed by the “official” beginning of the conference this afternoon and then a HUGE worship celebration tonight. Kirkwood UCC will be among the new churches lifted up in prayer and thanksgiving—and a banner marched around the worship arena…hopefully your ears will be burning tonight. Cameron Trimble, who is our Southeast Conference new church head honcho has made several presentations already and is saying many good things about our becoming church in Kirkwood—about you-- and I have to say, it does make me very proud—you make me very proud.

I met some interesting, encouraging, outgoing people last night from all over. Jay from Illinois, John from Detroit, oh several others who are beginning churches throughout the country, all different colors, ages, theological convictions…it is exciting—overwhelming, but most certainly good to be around others who are working toward the same things that we are.

I attended a worship service last night with the theme, “Is It Well With Your Soul?” It was well with my soul, but it was helpful for an opportunity to ask the question. There were healing stations to be anointed with oil, followed by communion served by John Thomas the president of the United Church of Christ. You know I got there early and watched all the people come in. And many were new—or newer you could tell, but many have been coming to the UCC Synods all their lives and they hugged each other and their faces lit up when they saw each other and that part made me so happy and so sad. I missed hugging those folks at the UM conference this June---I look forward to the day when I will be hugging the necks of the UCC folks—that will be a good day. Mostly I thought how thankful I was—I am to be able to hug your necks, really it is so good to think about you when I am feeling a little off balance in this new crowd—to think about our worship together, our work together, our conversations, our becoming a church. WOW, God is so good—all the time.

I’m fixin’ to be late. Please keep me in your prayers today---you will be in mine. L, S

I made it

to Hartford CT! And in fact, I'm sitting in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel waiting to check in at 3:00--it's 12:45--mmm I wonder what else there is to do in Hartford in the Sheraton.

Anyway, I've already seen many churchy folks at the airport, walking around the hotel--I've missed being around church folks--this will be good. I think my emotional state is all over the place right this minute. I'm anxious, excited, still wondering ( a little ) if this denomination is right for me, still missing ( a little ) the other denomination, but mostly just wanting to be here--right now, believing that God has called me and us to this time and this place.

The first two days of the conference will be workshop days for me and others who are involved in new church development. I'm looking forward to hearing the leaders and having conversations with other pastors who are in the midst of new church start-ups. We will have a worship service together tonight and have an opportunity to pray for all of our churches that are becoming--you will be lifted up in prayer and I will be thanking God for you daily.

Check the http://www.ucc.org/ website and click on the Synod (fancy name for conference) in the City. I'll write more later. L, S

PS Check out some of the pics from worship in the park.

It's Tuesday afternoon and I am taking a break from pouring coffee to have some cheese curds at Aces next door--ooooo yum, don't knock em till you've tried em!

Almost a month has gone by since writing in my blog--it's hard to believe. In the past month I officiated at a wedding of young couple living in Augusta--the wedding was at my home church Warrenton First United Methodist, and the I used to babysit the bride--oh I feel old.

My best friend Tim graduated from Social Work School at UGA--go Timmy! We had a great big party for him at Gathering Grounds--50 of his closest friends were there.



AND, Kirkwood UCC survived the Kirkwood Spring Fling!!!! Honestly it was a great day. We gave away little bottles of water with the Kirkwood UCC logo on them and some information about our church that is becoming. And we gave out alot of water and we talked to several people--it was great way to simply be a part of and involved in our community and I thank God or all the folks willing to help pull it off. As usual, Susan came up with all of the logistical stuff (thank the Lord) Amy put in her creative work, and Vickie, Erica, Annie, Chris, Tim, Eric, Dorothy and Beth greeted folks with warm words and cold water--mmmm seems to me there's something biblical about that!

So Sunday followed Saturday as it usually does and we worshiped together and it was Awesome--I mean really, not anything big or unusual, but holy and real. We celebrated Pentecost (yes, I know a week early, but when you're only together once a month...you gotta do what you gotta do) and it was truly spirit filled. Ah, I can't even express it all yet--oh I will, but God is good, all the time and so is this crowd that is gathering--good and faithful and real and open--I am continually surprised and amazed at the goodness and grace of God in all of our lives.

This weekend I've got to more weddings--one is a close friend from home--we grew up together, and used to sing and giggle and go swimming and to church--she's a great soul, Paige is her name and she's marrying Brad whose a great guy and they really seem happy together, I thank God for love like that. And then my little (25ish) cousin is getting married in TN. It will be good to be together with my family and to celebrate such a wonderful day in Russel and Jess' life. And then I think Susan and I are going hiking on Sunday afternoon--It will be a great weekend.

I hope y'all are in for a great weekend. I love you and I thank God for you, S

This is my nephew James Davis--maybe he'll go hiking with us!!!!!

Thank you God for this community. Amen

Oh my heavens you have been on my mind Kirkwood UCC. I have spent the past three days at a New Church Start-Up "boot camp." There were moments of feeling completely lost--moments of feeling down right foolish--and thankfully, moments of ecstatic joy believing that we are moving forward faithfully and with much hopefulness ahead of us--and even more work :)

I'll share that part with you pretty soon! http://www.griffithcoaching.com/

And you really have been so close in all of this--thinking about each of you--all of you--wondering where and how you will use your gifts and talents to help this church become what God wants it to be--what our community needs it to be---all that we hope it can be. I love you and I thank God for you--I do.

In the more quiet moments of this week, I have been thinking and praying for all of those folks at VA Tech. I just can't even begin to fathom the loss and heartache and frustration and pain that all of those families and friends and community are suffering right now. Please pray for them. I know you have been, just continue to hold them close.

Last Saturday about 9 of our folks spent and afternoon working on a Habitat House in Dekalb County--Panthersville to be exact. It was a great day of hard work and good conversations and a good bit of silliness. Praise be to God! http://www.dekalbhabitat.org/

We will start our first small group this Monday as we begin to talk through the book "The Phoenix Affirmations." http://www.crosswalkamerica.org/ I hope this book will help us think about and talk about God and Jesus in a way that feels honest and biblical and relevant. I'm excited about the opportunity to be with the folks that feel led to participate and for us to get to know each other a little better and mostly to get to know God better--closer, deeper.

It has been a long week, but a good week and I thank God for right now--for that God is doing in our lives to bring us closer. I serve on the board of an organization--ministry called L'arch http://www.larch.org/ which serves folks with disabilities and reaches out to all people to create community--it is an organization that honestly does offer hope to a hurting world. It is an organization that recognizes that all people have so much to offer the world and that we need each other in the very best way. But, mostly I wanted to share a prayer with you that was written by Jean Vanier the founder of L'arche.

"It is only the people who love, forgive and listen who build community. It is those who are sensitive, who serve others, and who nourish and pray for them. And each of us, by the grace that has been given to us, exercises our gifts, according to our own and unique expression of love and tenderness. A community is only really a community when all its members realize how deeply they need the gifts of others, and try to make themselves more transparent, and more faithful in the exercise of their own gifts. So a community is built by everyone of its members, all in their own way. Thank you God for this community. Amen.

Easter Monday

Today (in the freezing cold of Easter Monday) I feel as though I am walking on clouds--God is so good and I am the most fortunate minister around. Our Easter morning celebration in the park was so Holy and chilly and consumed it felt by the Holy Spirit.

Susan, Annie, Kelly and Amy were up and at em at 7am hiding eggs in the park. We made plenty of coffee and set up our worship area in the tree house. By 8:15 we had gathered--about 40 of us. We began with the ancient proclamation of the believers..."Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed!" Oh it was good to be together and to worship and sing and feel close to God and close to each other--and really we were close to each other because it was so stinking cold. And I worried madly about the weather--like I could do anything about it--but folks were there and it was a great morning.

By 9:00 about 15 kids had gathered for the Easter Egg Hunt--they were the most adorable littles-- all dressed in their warm colorful Easter outfits with baskets in hand ready to hunt as many eggs as they could find. Their mama's and daddy's were pretty cute too--following them around--helping them out--taking pictures.

It truly was a day of rejoicing. I can't help but think back to Easter's past--congregations that I have served and been a part of--worship experiences that have meant so much. And I thank God for all those people--and all of those experiences and I thank God for bringing me--us--to this place--to Kirkwood, right here and right now--coffee shop and all. I thank God for helping me to see such beauty in the people of this community--such kindness and goodness--I thank God for giving all of us the courage and the desire to gather as a community of faith and I trust that God has a plan for us--a future and a hope.

We are Easter people--people of resurrection and hope--and everyone--everyone is invited to be a part. Thanks be to God!

Kirkwood UCC

Kirkwood UCC...well it is where we are gathering...right? In a community that is growing and becoming...similar to the church...right? I am sorry for my back and forth. I want to honor our efforts and the efforts of the Gathering Grounds coffee house and to stick with Kirkwood UCC makes the most sense right now. Let's stay with this one for awhile--I promise NO more name changes!

And what about the website--what do you think? I think Amy Rush is an amazing and talented woman who uses her gifts in marvelous ways. Thank you Amy, thank you, thank you!

I hope and pray that this website can be away for us a way to stay connected and informed about all that is becoming in this community of faith. I hope and pray that it can be an effective way to reach out to others in our community who might be hearing that something is happening on Sunday evenings in Kirkwood, or at Habitat, or in peoples lives that are growing closer to God...that are experiencing new friendships...that are finding a way and becoming a part of something that is bigger than all of us, and real and true.

Oh my sisters and brothers, God is so good and faithful and kind and loving. I know it because I feel it and count on it in my own life, but I also see it happening in your lives and in our lives together. I thank God for loving us so much. I thank God for Jesus, who has given us everything. I thank God for the United Church of Christ, for Cameron and Tim whose support is unceasing. And I thank God for you and can't wait to be with you again on the day of rejoicing--Easter Sunday morning. Praise be to God. AMEN

It's the week before Holy Week, a couple of days before Palm Sunday. There are moments when I feel so anxious about this transition time in my life--when I am so used to the rhythm and the cycle of the church year--of the Lenten reflection time moving and pushing us toward Good Friday and eventually Easter Sunday. About a year ago I was beginning to live into a long Good Friday. It was time for me to let go and follow God in the ways that God has called me and created me. It was time to let go of what I thought was secure and safe and follow--just take up my cross and follow. It has been a month of Good Fridays--falling down and falling a part and feeling lifeless in so many ways. But God is good, God is always good and faithful, even when I am not. And I have cried out in the back yard of the coffee shop dragging some huge trash bag full of coffee out to the dump, "My God My God have you forsaken me?" And I know that God has not--it's that I have closed my eyes to the Grace of God in that moment--God is always making a way--for me and for us. Sometimes the way doesn't look or feel or seem like I want it to, or remembered it--but it is God's way-for me and it is right.
I think about the people in my life right now and they are not the same people that were there a year ago. I miss those folks at St. Paul, everyday I do ( thankfully some are still in my life--it makes sense.) But there are new people that God has brought into my life--people that drink coffee and have families and jobs and responsibilities and are searching for something more to this life. And somehow I get to be a part of that--somehow I am blessed to hear their stories. The coffee shop is safe place--a place to be together or to be quiet (well sometimes) but it is about the Gathering of this Kirkwood community and surrounding neighborhoods--it is about the Gathering of good people and that is enough.
I am grateful to be where I am right now--I am unsteady, but certain that I don't have to can't be steady all by myself. Susan is a rock--a rock star every day. Friends are incredible and encouraging. I struggle with some relationships that feel very rocky and unsure but believe that God will take care of us.
Easter is coming--most of all I know that. And we will gather as a community of faith--as a community of people reaching out to a loving and living God believing that God is there--that Jesus has given us life--abundant and true and real. I pray there will be folks who attend this service and get a glimpse of God--kind and full of justice and celebrating diversity and offering forgiveness and grace. I pray that the little ones will be there running around filling their baskets and giggling--I do miss those little ones at St. Paul.
Sometimes, honestly I do find myself with heavy bag FULL of trash on my way to the dumpster thanking God for all that is--for my life--the good the bad the ugly--mostly that I am an Easter person--we are Easter people--always.

I took this picture last fall in Florence Italy. Michael Angelo's rendering of Nicodemus, Mary(Jesus' friend) and Mary(Jesus's mother) taking him from the cross. I was not expecting to be so overwhelmed, but when I saw it--it took my breath away--punched me in the gut. Such love and sorrow and brokeness. We have all known it--felt it. Right now, during Lent, this is where we are---where we are called to be--remembering and reflecting. But Easter is on the way---Easter is on the way.

Easter's Coming...

Hey my sisters and brothers. I can't get you out of my head--and especially your voices while you sang Amazing Grace and then all of your carrying on and eating pizza--it was a perfect afternoon. Thank you for being there--thank you for coming to worship and to be with one another. Thank you to Gerlinda and Greg for the beautiful music and to Susan and Amy for getting our "eats" together. And for those folks who wanted to come but couldn't make it--there will be many more opportunities!

Just some things I want to remind you about and let you know about.

~Please keep in your prayers
Regina's Dad
Ainsley's Friend
Susannah's Cousin
Our gathering community of faith
Our whole community

~Easter Sunday Worship 8am in the tree house at Bessie Branham Park (on the corner of Kirkwood & Ridgedale)
~Eater Egg Hunt following worship around 9ish
If you are interested in helping with either of these events coming up, PLEASE email me back so we can get some folks working on Easter Egg stuffing, Easter Egg hiding, coffee pouring, worship welcoming, etc...I can't wait to hear from you!!!!)
~Our Habitat for Humanity Service Day scheduled for April 14th 8:00 am

~In the next several days I will email you a flyer that you can print off or send to others inviting them to our Easter Sunday worship. I think this would be a great opportunity for us to reach out to some folks in our neighborhood (wherever you neighborhood is) and invite them to a morning of joyous celebration along with incredible people.

~If you're ready or want to talk about some of this church stuff, I'm wide open--just tell me when and where.

I am so thankful for you and thankful to God for what is beginning at the coffee shop in Kirkwood. It is a humble start no doubt, but I believe with all of my heart that God will honor our faithfulness and our hope of growing closer to God and to each other. Please know that I am praying for you and for us everyday. Peace and love to you, Susannah

A Few Good Sheep…
That’s what I’m hoping and praying for! As we begin the steady, day by day work of building a community of faith it is crucial that everyone should have the opportunity to be invested, involved and inviting others on the journey.

We will gather for worship EVERY 3rd Sunday of the month.

If you feel lead, called, prodded, pushed to be a part of the building up process of this community, I hope you’ll let me know. We need folks who are willing and ready to:
1. Gather on a regular basis (probably bi-monthly in the beginning), separate from Sunday afternoon worship, for:
2. Bible study
3. Fellowship (eating together)
4. Business--which is a time for us to work on our ministry plan and check in with on going projects
5. Serving together
6. Making a financial commitment
7. And we will pray together—for each other, for those who are involved now and for those who will be.

The vision I hold for this church in the making, is a new congregation gathered in the community of historic Kirkwood. A community that worships together and serves together, a community that genuinely cares about others, a community that seeks to be authentic and is welcoming of all people, a community that is filled with the love of God and shines with the light of Christ.
Gathering-Giving-Gaining-Growing in God’s Grace
Please know that I thank God for you everyday and keep you close in my prayers. Peace and love to you, Susannah 770-843-1448
smdavis@mindspring.com http://www.susannahsblog@blogspot.com/

Worship Schedule
February 18th 5:00 @ Gathering Grounds
March 18th 5:00 @ Gathering Grounds
April 8th 7:00 AM Easter Sunrise Service
(Gathering place TBA)
May 20th 5:00 @ Gathering Grounds
June 17th 5:00 @ Gathering Grounds
July 15th 5:00 @ Gathering Grounds
August 19th 5:00 @ Gathering Grounds
September…every Sunday…somewhere in Kirkwood!

Ash Wednesday Service: Wednesday February 21st 6:30 AM
Lenten Prayers and Holy Communion:
Every Wednesday of the season of Lent
6:30 AM @ Gathering Grounds

EASTER EGG HUNT
April 7th
Location TBA


Our Prayers
For Peace
All those who are serving in the war all over the world.
For our community


Dream/Wish List
LCD Projector
A place to make copies
Web site design and maintenance
Sound System

After Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was truly a holy time...hectic, too but full of God's love and grace and beautiful, I mean beautiful people! There were a little over 50 of us gathered for worship at Gathering Grounds Coffee House (http://www.gatheringgroundskirkwood.com/.) The coffee shop was transformed into a worship space with a couple of isles, a couple of pews and rows, a couple of stools and several folks standing in the back--we made it work and it did (and when I say we, mostly I'm talking about Susan, Amy and Karen.)

I knew most of the people, but not everyone and that part was so exciting, too. Friends invited friends to worship with them on Christmas eve. We sang Christmas hymns and I mean it when I tell you it was incredible. I was worried how Gerlinda (amazing guitarist, singer song writer http://www.weaklazylier.com/ ) and I were going to pull off classic Christmas Hymns on two guitars, but God is good and the congregation can sing! My good friend and encourager Robin Harp, her son Josh and daughter Isabell brought the Christ Candle to life with the bright light of Christ and a reading from Jeremiah. The kids joined me for a special time with them and we talked about God's love for us and that because God sent Jesus into the world to be born into our lives we don't ever have to feel alone, and like the angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid...this is good news!."

My heart still feels so full from that worship experience with the Kirkwood community and surrounding communities, it feels full of love for the people that gathered and for God who is steady, and wide and gracious every single moment of the day. And I am hopeful that there is more to come. I am hopeful that God is gathering us for something that is bigger than us, to reach out to each other and our community with the saving, gracious love of God and to do it in ways that are real and authentic and make sense for us and for our community. We need each other, bottom line, we need God and we need each other. I believe that with all of my heart.

We will gather again at Gathering Grounds on Sunday afternoon January 21st, 5:00 till about 5:45. It will be a time of worship and a time of conversation about the hope of something more to come. I'm praying for you everyday--for all of us as we move forward to listen and watch and wait and work toward God's vision for us in our community.

Please be certain that I will be praying for you everyday! Peace and love to you, S