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.