‘…Each day, we must learn
again how to love, between morning’s quick coffee
and evening’s slow return…”
(“In the Middle,” Barbara Crooker)
November 6, 2020
Grace and peace to you, sisters and brothers,
It is Wednesday morning. We awake from a short night, come to consciousness, and oomph, we remember: it isn’t finished. The 2020 election is still undecided, we are still in a “battleground.” Even if the election has been decided while we were sleeping, it will not be over. There likely will be accusations, challenges, litigation to follow. And no matter which candidates win, some people will find it hard to look in the eye of others they have known and loved for years; someone will be angry or disappointed or embittered towards some neighbor, loved one, fellow believer or friend who voted “wrong,” and will blame them for the expected fallout of trouble to come.
We want to turn over, pull the covers over our head, and wake up in 2021, preferably the spring.
And yeah, that’s not going to happen. This is what will happen: we will climb out of bed, write a pastoral letter and plan an order of worship; tonight we’ll get on zoom and tackle some decisions about sidewalk repairs, and Christmas Eve worship, and spiritual formation in the winter of a pandemic. Tomorrow we’ll head to Bible study where women who voted differently from one another will dig below the knots in their stomach to hear a Word from the Lord, and later in the day we’ll serve a meal to hungry neighbors. On Saturday, we’ll gather for Bob McDevitt’s funeral and walk with the Ziegler’s in their grief. And on Sunday, we’ll come to the sanctuary to stand before God, confess our sins, pass the peace; we’ll hear Natalia and Delaney Bradley talk to us about stewardship; we’ll come forward and dedicate ourselves again to a life modeled on Jesus Christ, committing our time and treasure to serve him. On Sunday afternoon we’ll gather at the Table in the Peace Garden—the Peace Garden, of all places-- with raw emotions and ugly edges, and we’ll hope and wait for God to turn us into something beautiful again, the body of Christ.
“Each day,” the poet reminds us, “we must learn/again how to love, between morning’s quick coffee and evening’s slow return…” We’ve had to do this with past elections which were less volatile than this. Now we have to do it again.
So we get out of bed. And no matter who wins the election, we will practice loving, even if it means going through the motions for a time. We will give each other space, and treat others the way we want to be treated. We will not gloat, or write anyone off, or take our marbles and go home, even if we are angry or bitter or disappointed. We will look deeper into the person behind the vote, and hopefully they will do the same for us, and we’ll practice loving until we find and feel it again, if for no other reason than this is what Christ commands us to do. Because love is the only way to get to a place, to a home or a country or a church family that is worth getting out of bed for.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, see you in church.
How will we be the Church this week?
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Saturday, 11/7 – Bob McDevitt Visitation and Funeral Service – Visitation 9:30AM -10:15AM in the Community Room, Funeral Service 10:30AM in the Sanctuary and live streamed on our YouTube channel. Link will be posted on our website homepage also.
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Sunday, 11/8 – Dedication Sunday, Service of the Lord’s Day - 9:30AM in the sanctuary and live-streamed. Please sign up online and turn in your pledges in worship, to the office or online. Link below.
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Sunday, 11/8 – Outdoor Vespers and Communion Service – 4PM bring a lawn chair, mask, and blanket! Please sign up online. Link below.
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Sunday, 11/8 – Deacons deliver the bread and cup to kin behind ‘locked doors’.
- Tuesday, 11/10 – Staff meeting – 10AM
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Tuesday, 11/10 – Bible Study via Zoom – 7:30PM if you would like the link, email Carter
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Wednesday, 11/11 – Musicless Rec – 4PM, with Ms. Jaylee and Mrs. B, outside, weather permitting, or in Fellowship Hall
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Wednesday, 11/11 – Deacons – 7:30PM, Fellowship Hall or zoom – let Tim D. or Liz know if you cannot attend in person and they will send a link
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Thursday, 11/12 – Sisters of the Way Bible study, 9:30AM, on the Prayer Labyrinth or in Fellowship Hall
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Thursday, 11/12 – Community Meals – 5PM, in the lower parking lot
- Thursday, 11/12 – Chancel Handbells Rehearsal – 6:30PM
Coming soon to a screen near you! Keep your eyes on your email inbox – a visual surprise is coming your way after worship on Dedication Sunday!
Mission Partner: Montgomery County Women’s Center
The peace of Christ be with us all,
Kerry and Carter
