Although the byline for today’s blog says “John Cleghorn,” Gail and I have collaborated to write this post, Caldwell.
One of the ways that we prepare ourselves and our hearts for worship on Sunday mornings is through the simple exercise of intentionally breathing in and breathing out. We breathe out any anxiety we may be carrying – and breathe in God’s peace.
We breathe out our bitterness and anger – and breathe in God’s love.
Having breathed out some of what separates us from God’s peace, we are then able to breathe in the hope, joy, love, and peace that God shares freely and abundantly with us.
And ultimately, with God’s help, we are able to breathe that hope, joy, love, and peace into the world around us.
None of us can deny that the world around us needs more of all of that – more hope, more joy, more love, and more peace – these days.
None of us can deny that often times we ourselves need more of all the above.
So I invite you, friends and family, to take a deep breath right now.
Inhale through your nose.
Hold it for two or three seconds.
Then exhale through your nose.
You are invited to do that again –
only this time, as you inhale, think about what you need more of from God right now.
Do you need more of God’s peace, patience, kindness, and compassion?
Do you need more of God’s love, mercy, joy, and forgiving spirit?
Whatever you need more of, ask God to fill you with it as you inhale.
As you exhale, think about what you need less of right now.
Do you long to have less worry, fear, and anxiety?
Do you long to release excessive anger or a lingering desire for revenge?
Whatever you need less of, ask God to remove it from you as you exhale.
As you inhale and exhale again, what do you imagine that God wants you to breathe in with each inhale?
What do you imagine God wants you to breathe out into the world with each exhale?
Breathe in. Breathe out. Give thanks to God for each breath, beloved ones. Every breath is a gift.
Keep reading to learn about a few ways that Caldwell has breathed life and hope out into our world in recent days.
Charlotte Pride Dialogue on Ending Racism
John joined friend and colleague Rev. Cliff Matthews of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church for a dialogue about ending racism on Sunday evening. The congregations of St. Luke and Caldwell both intersect membership including people of color and LGBTQ folk. Hosted by Charlotte Pride, the conversation touched on the role of the church in ending racism, some distinctions between the responsibility of mostly white churches and Black congregations and other topics that can inform our journey to become an anti-racist congregation. You can watch that hour-long dialogue by clicking here. The next dialogue in that series will be on Sept. 20 addressing reconciliation and reparation.
Catching Up With Our Interns
If you weren’t able to be online for our Hope interns reunion last Sunday afternoon, you’re in luck. You can click here to watch the recording of that joy-filled gathering and hear what these great young people have been doing – and what’s next.
Thanks, Presbytery
Our Home affordable housing dream moved one-step closer to becoming a reality last Saturday. The Presbytery of Charlotte approved our request to handle any necessary financing and long-term lease arrangements of the Price Building (we will be leasing it to a non-profit the church will control). This follows the congregation’s approval of the same question last month. The vote is needed because our real estate is entrusted to us by the Presbytery and its approval is required for any long-term arrangements and/or financing. The next steps are to work with our general contractor to understand a more accurate cost estimate for the full project.
For all that God has done, is doing, and will do, we are grateful.
Grace and peace be with you all – Gail and John