As we move into this fall and a faithfully busy schedule… I am still tempted to think back on the vacation from which I just returned. As I mentioned in Church on the 24th of August… the time away included a high school reunion and a memorial service for a neighbor as well as a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for some very special people – and it was also filled with family dinners, Little League games, catching crabs with the grandchildren, gardening, and just ‘hanging out’.

But most memorable… I would have to say… was… that this vacation time also included a 9 day trip to San Jose, Costa Rica where – among other day trips to 3 volcanoes, a butterfly farm and a coffee plantation – we also spent one Sunday white water rafting on the Sarapiqui River for 3 hours and 9 miles!

Now given the fact that many of you were in church the day I returned, I won’t recap the expectation that I would be cruising down a calm river which turned out to be rapids of the Class III and IV variety! There were 7 of us outfitted in helmets and life jackets in the raft –each with a paddle - ready to follow the guide’s paddling directions of RIGHT FORWARD… RIGHT BACK (if you are on the right side of the raft…) and DOWN… meant get off the side fast – stop rowing – and squat way down on the bottom of the raft so you don’t get thrown out into the water … UP meant back on the side and start rowing as if your life depended on it.

So you may ask… what does this have to do with church? … Well… with the adrenalin peaked… it became very clear to me that the SECRET to navigating these rapids and staying afloat can sometimes be like our faith community. We HAVE to row together!!*
(*it’s not about ME – it’s about WE!)

Here as a church we are dealing with life and death – we are often coping with chaos in our personal lives and need each other… we are sometimes drifting in the serene waters and happy to share our celebrations with one another… we are purposefully offering each other courage by rowing together and keeping one another on an even keel… and most of all –
~ we are striving to paddle in the direction that God is calling us – which is the direction of Christ’s love!

Doing that takes committed co-operation – working together – looking out for one another – each of us using the strength (and time and talents and treasures) that we have to move forward in the way of true hospitality and serving and caring and praying and worshipping and including and witnessing and celebrating the love of Christ whose body
WE are!

So it is that WE begin this September with renewed vigor to continue making OUR SCC~UCC congregation the most faithful witness of Christ’s love that WE can faithfully BE!

Whether WE are praying in worship… or sharing our creative gifts… or adopting a garden spot and weeding it … or signing up to help with a church supper or greeting someone we don’t know in church ~ WE are faithfully witnessing to Christ’s love.
Whether WE are serving or preparing food for the soup kitchen … or working on a committee… or being present in a support group… or quietly going across the street to get coffee and donuts for everyone when the coffee hour host is unable to come (!),,, WE are faithfully witnessing to Christ’s love.
Whether WE are offering ideas or help or talents or money or a shoulder to cry on… whether WE are teaching or cooking or getting reports in on time…whether WE are listening to concerns or visiting the homebound or participating in worship or just plain caring and reaching out with whatever gifts we have been given…

… WE are called by God to faithfully row this church boat together in the overflowing river of Christ’s love! Our life depends on it! How blessed we are to travel through the living waters of life in this OUR faith community !

In Christ’s Love,

Joy

If you've ever wondered when to call the minister, let me offer some suggestions:

* When you don't know me, but would like to.
* When you are searching for a deeper faith, or have biblical or theological issues that concern you.
* When you have problems you'd like to discuss…with your job, children, marriage, relationship or anything else where a sympathetic ear might be of help.
* When you are going into the hospital or someone else in the church is
* When someone close to you has died or is critically ill.
* When you are planning to be married.
* When you have a child to be baptized
* When you are considering joining the church
* When you have suggestions to make about church programs
* When you have issues or concerns you'd like addressed in a sermon
* When you'd just like to visit, or know someone else who'd like to.
* When you'd like to help in committee work or church school teaching
* When you're angry at me or other staff
* When there are community issues you'd like to discuss.

Pastoral ministry is one of the most important areas of what I do and I am always happy to hear from you…

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