HELLO!

Today began with a concern, were we canceling our service due to the cold weather. Someone had seen on Facebook that we were asking people to watch us online. Bethe investigated, it was a Woodlawn United Methodist Church in the United States. Not us. Last week we had a large crowd, despite the weather. This week, the cold weather today, the storm coming tonight, has people concerned. When people are anxious, they stay home. Still, at 9:58 am the people began to stream in. As I was meeting the choir, in the Sams Room, to offer a prayer I could see people, leaving their cars, walking toward the church. “I can see people”, I exclaimed. One choir member wondered if I was “seeing dead people”, persons coming from the cemetery. “I never know what you are going to way.” I like that. I never want to be dull. In fact, no matter what the occasion, how many people are present, my filter is how to make a gathering more interesting, how to engage listeners. I want to connect.

You tell me if I was successful in this effort, here is the livestream link to the service today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgQieA-rV_0

As I was sitting in my chair, I was approached, sheepishly, by a choir member. She had a message for me (oh oh…). “Your stole is inside out”. Things got better. Adelia and Dodie’s short skit, to promote the April Dinner Theatre was a sensation. And one of the children, who joined me for a conversation on the front steps, waited till we were singing “No Matter” to whisper to me, “I don’t wait for people to ask me for help, I help right away.” These are the unexpected moments I love each Sunday.

I referred this author and prayer in my sermon today. It remains my favorite prayer, one I recite often, use in church often, send to other churches, often. It captures my theology of church. Peace, Kevin

Living puzzles and the Kingdom of God (Written by Stanley Hauerwas, American ethicist and theologian, from his book Prayers Plainly Spoken)

All praise to you, Creator God, who birthed Jesus, who Spirits your church into being, making us members one of another.

It is a great mystery that we are your body.

But we praise you for it, for otherwise we would be alone – condemned to live alone, to die alone.

But you have given us one another in all shapes and sizes.

 We do not fit together all that well, but we pray that the puzzles of our lives may please you and entertain you, so that in the end we add up to be your kingdom.

Help us to live with the confidence of that kingdom, in light of your Son’s resurrection, so that when all is said and done, this may be said:

“They were a strange lot but look how they loved one another.” Amen