Dear Caldwell,
What a ‘wondrous’ service we shared yesterday, graced by the Caldwell House Singers, our choir and Liz Wagner’s invitation to engage God’s word in open inquiry and unhesitating curiosity. Thanks to all who contributed. (And congrats again to both Liz and former intern Danny Trapp, who received the Master in Divinity degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte on Saturday.)
As we move from Sunday to Monday, especially mindful of the gift God has given us in Caldwell House, we have a couple of opportunities to give back:
1. Two couches: We furnished Caldwell House in August 2010 out of our basements, garages, attics and overly-furnished rooms. Most of the furniture has held up well as hundreds of women have stayed with us for hundreds of nights. Now, two of our couches are worn out, with upholstery gone and padding showing through on the arms, to say nothing of the spent seat cushions. We would welcome two replacement couches – one can be more of a love seat. They don’t have to be new but should have some life in them (this isn’t an alternative to taking your old couch to the trash heap). Please give this some thought and let’s see what we can come up with. Let me or Helen Hull (nchelen2012@gmail.com) know if you have solutions.
2. Caldwell House Fashion Show: The ladies will be hosting a just-for-fun fashion show, now scheduled for Sunday, May 19. Several women have volunteered to help but the ladies also need two men to help with set up in Belk Hall (our gym) at 5 on the 19th. Contact Phanta at plansden@gmail.com if you can help.
3. Thoughts and Questions about the end of life: Finally, I am interested in your thoughts and questions about end of life. Churches and preachers don’t say enough about this issue, which will touch us all, in many ways, before we are through. I’ll be taking this topic up from multiple angles in sermons for the next two weeks in conjunction with an initiative from our Congregational Care Committee (you will hear more about that later). Let me know your questions, opinions and reflections, be they theological, pastoral or in relationship to how Reformed people see our memorial service not as a sad funeral but as a celebration of the resurrection. Write to me at pastor@caldwellpresby.org
I will be back in touch soon.
Meantime, may the Lord be with you there.
John