Dear Friends,
It was a gift to travel from Easter Monday to April 17 in Turkey, Greece, and Italy (Rome and Pompei) with Mike Gorman’s study tour of Paul’s first century start-up missionary activity. Along with Mike and Nancy Gorman from our church, we also had Kim and Chris Wilhelm, and Kathy Monte participate … plus 31 new friends!
When I got back, Pastor Erik was already supporting the Communications Team from the Council of Bishops just before the start of the 2024 General Conference Session, and then helping the Baltimore-Washington Conference communications work at General Conference. Katie Foster’s last few weeks of waiting for the new “pink” addition to the family by working from home accentuated the obvious: this feels like a pregnant time and that God is on the move!
I also hear our generous and self-giving church servants saying, “this is a lot do,” and it seems some think “it happens by magic.” That anyone could think that is to do-ers’ credit for making it look easy; but the truth is, it takes everyone! Especially as we are becoming more and more knit together as Christ’s body at Community; so, don’t hang back.
We all experience change in church as well as our world with emotional ebbs and flows, new families coming and dear ones responding to new calls on their lives. We lament everyone doesn’t come to worship in-person in the sanctuary; yet, since COVID closures, we have a regular worshiping community online to be nurtured and celebrated. Some worry and even seem angry that the way we were we will never be again, and, for the striving to recapture the past, become upset and/or want to fault someone.
And yet, right here in the midst, God is alive and on the move. It isn’t about us and our preferences at all. We chose freely to do life together in the church, the body of Christ, and to participate in Christ’s reconciliation and restoration of God’s Kingdom. Participants in God’s mission for others as gathered-together people, centered in Christ, is what we say church is. And, it doesn’t have to be perfect, though it has to be a willing offering of ourselves: prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. As long as there is time, the future will come. Let’s wait together. Let’s wait with expectant hope that what God has planned for Community will surprise and delight us altogether!
Our congregation came back into the mostly upgraded sanctuary on April 21. Special thanks are due for the daily monitoring and management of the contracted project by the Trustees, especially Larry Rogers and Gary Todd. Ministry teams and congregants have been learning the full range and capabilities of our new lights, enjoying the improved visibility and clarity with two screens for viewing, and walking on the new carpeting. While we are celebrating and appreciating these aspects of the upgraded sanctuary, we are also exploring options elevated by the Trustees to look toward how we might increase the flexibility of use and versatility of this space during non-worship or rehearsal hours. This week, the musical instruments are being returned, connected, and tuned. Old wooden pews are being returned for current seating. They also stand as place-holders during the process of decision-making concerning incorporation of pew-chairs. If one of the proposal options is selected, there will be seating in place while custom pew-chairs are manufactured and delivered.
New outside directional signs and those identifying the functions inside the buildings are installed. The signs for inside spaces are coming soon. This is another Trustees project deserving of our gratitude, and Doug Sauer supported it with his time and leadership.
The “church has left the building” is on the new blue CUMC T-Shirts, and in that spirit, CDC and CUMC represented Christ at the Crofton Spring Festival on the Green this past Saturday with a large contingent of bundled up servant-hearted folks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (it was cold and wet!). We shared about CUMC and who we are becoming, worship, events, activities and Christian teaching for all ages. Wesley the Moothedist (our friendly cow mascot) also wore a T-Shirt and a sign that said: “Moo-oo-oo-ve” for exercise month.
A nurse in our congregation, Barbara Langdon, offered free blood pressure screenings and health information. Yes, of course, we invited everyone to the Community Chocolate Festival on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.! It’s here in the Fellowship Hall… and that means we are praying for lots of chocolate treats to feed the anticipated crowd! Here’s how we inspired them…
With blessings, and chocolate Kisses,
Barb Julian, Lay Leader
