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The church talks a great deal about change. When I attend conferences and workshops, we often discuss the changing landscape of religion in America. We talk about how churches must change with the times. We lament the lack of change. We make jokes about how the only one who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. Yet we rarely discuss why change is so hard for us.  

 

Over time I've come to understand some of the reasons behind our desire for same-ness. One of the most poignant learning experiences came from a church in rural Indiana that had been gifted with a pastor who was a trained musician. After discussing an idea with the consistory and gaining their approval, she moved the piano from the room next to the sanctuary into the sanctuary. This way she could accompany them on hymns and share her love of music. However, the congregation was furious with this decision. It took a year for them to move past this change to their interior landscape. Now you may laugh at this story and think "those people are ridiculous." But instead I invite you to reflect on your own personal landscape. Where are the places that you hope will remain the same? What are some things in your own life that you would hate to have "moved"? Have you ever had anyone move the furniture in your own home? What if instead of judging them those who resisted we instead ask, "What kind of a situation results in people who feel so strongly about this particular type of change?"

 

We are resistant to change in degrees. The balance between the two differs by individual. There is a spectrum in human behavior regarding openness to novelty. Part of the reason behind our resistance is inbred. Change can be dangerous when it has no pattern or we are unable to make meaning from it. Change that is predictable is easier to handle (the changing of the seasons) even if we mourn it (the change in age of our children). Change involves gain and loss. And loss is one thing we do not like, even when it's necessary.

 

Same-ness offers us a sense of security, even when it's a false sense. Even when we know that we are delaying the inevitable, we cling to same-ness. It provides comfort. And sometimes that is because the rest of the world is changing so rapidly. After all, how many of us have thought, upon returning to a childhood place, "I'm so glad it hasn't changed!"? We all have aspects of our lives we do not want to change. For many people church is the definition of sameness and comfort in a sea of uncertainty and change.

 

So as we move into conversations about change in our churches, I invite you to take a deep breath. Whether you are the person who is clamoring for change or you are the one who thinks things are good the way they are, we occupy the same spaces in the church. In order to make decisions about our futures, we will need to sit and listen to one another. Hear about what has meaning, listen for what is valuable, what we don't want to lose, and what we think we might gain. We can be curious with one another about what's behind our resistance to change as well as what drives our eagerness for change. When we are around the table and listening we can find new and compassionate pathways through change to adaptation.

 

Scripture for reflection: "Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17)

Peace,

 

Carrie

 

We expect renovations to made this summer and early fall with a special dedication to occur at the Hartman Center Fall Festival, October 12, 2019.

Whether you know it as Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, or Dia de Muertos, the season inspires spooky music. Keyboard duo Allegro con Fuoco will perform scary favorites on our majestic Hunsicker organ including music from Phantom of the Opera and Bach's famous Toccata & Fugue in D Minor.

 

Dr. William Wright leads the 24-member Franklin & Marshall College Chamber Singers in spirituals and sacred motets, madrigals and contemporary art music celebrating the beauty of human voices in harmony.

 

Get your Christmas spirit flowing and feet tapping with a heart-warming holiday program of music for voice, organ, piano and Celtic harp. Presented by Scott Siciliano, pastor, composer, musician and Seminary grad known for his angelic voice and musical versatility.

 

More performances in 2020 to be announced! 

The next Creation Justice Webinar will focus on the upcoming climate strike. Already, the strike planned for the 20th is shaping up to be one of the largest mobilizations in the history of the climate justice movement. Learn more about the climate strike and how faith communities are getting involved in the effort from an interfaith panel of speakers. The webinar is on September 10th at 1 pm ET, but sign-up even if you cannot make it, so that the video recording can be sent to you. On September 20, three days before the UN Climate Summit in NYC, young people and adults will strike all across the US and world to demand transformative action be taken to address the climate crisis. Millions of us will take the streets to demand a right to a future, and we're inviting you to #strikewithus  

 

Some online resources can be found here:  

Global Climate Strike FAQ

At Weybridge Congregational Church, the beginning of worship every Sunday includes a Creation Care Moment. It is a time of reflection dedicated to our first calling as Christians to be caretakers of our common home. In one Creation Care Moment, the Rev. Daniel Cooperrider focused on the meaning of creation justice. Read what he had to say as he reflected on his own evolving understandings of the environment.