HELLO!

What a crowd today! The energy was off the charts. When Nick demonstrated disc golf (everyone is invited to play next Sunday afternoon) I could feel the congregation settling into a: “we’re back!” vibe. As is now the norm, the size of the congregation just kept growing, I still saw people coming in at 1020 am. If you missed the service, here is the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R14fbSAA9kc

One of the many announcements offered today: The Tabitha UCW Unit are hosting a Fashion Show at Woodlawn United Church, 54 Woodlawn Rd Sunday, October 4^th 2-4 pm in the basement of the brick church. Fashions and footwear from Elegant Steps. A $20 ticket gets you a dessert, coffee/tea and a chance to win some fabulous prizes. Tickets are available at the church office Tuesday-Friday (9-4), call the Church 902-434-8302 or Teri 902-456-3188. The event typically sells out very quickly, so get your tickets soon. Many of our Woodlawn church community invite, bring, a friend along. Bethe represents the staff at this annual event.

I have never attended a fashion show. It is not on my “bucket list”. But I know those who do go have a great time. When it comes to clothes, if I never had to worry about dressing up for an event, you would likely see me in a hockey/baseball jersey, Red Sox-Pirates ball cap, black jeans or earth tone corduroy (My younger friends tell me “cords” are out of fashion. I tell them if fashion are pants with holes in them and shower slide sandals and Uggs, I am sticking to cords!) pants and sneakers.

How about you? If the decision was yours, and yours alone, what would you wear on a typical day? When I was first ordained as a minister I wore a black clergy shirt, a white wrap-around collar, and a black suit, covered, during church services, with first a Black Geneva gown and later a white Alb and seasonal stoles. Inspired by the late Pope Francis, who abandoned much of the formal attire of Pope to demonstrate a humble approach, I abandoned all clergy vestments and clothing in 2006, 20 years ago. The exception was the church I served before coming to Woodlawn, who insisted I wear a gown. When I was being interviewed by the search committee at Woodlawn, I explained I would never wear a gown again, it was non-negotiable. If it was a problem I could withdraw my candidacy. I do understand why female clergy wear a collar, as many lay people look past them when looking for “the minister”. But for someone like me, I try my best to push back on “white male privilege” and the hierarchy embedded in clergy attire. Given the “sins of the church” over time, I think we ought to present ourselves with as much humility as possible. You likely disagree with me on this and I respect your opinion. But how I dress is largely my business. I wear shirt and tie and dress shoes every Sunday (Sep-June). I think I look “presentable”. But “hierarchy” is something I seek to avoid. Everything I wear was purchased second-hand.

Peace, Kevin

PS I have included my five favorite sports jerseys (one MLB, four NHL). The Pirates' Manny Sanguillén remains my all-time favorite professional athlete. Why? He never, ever, took a walk, he always came to the plate ready to swing the bat!