Dear Caldwell,
What comes to mind when we hear the word “commandment?” Authority? Power? Coercion by force? Certainly, we see to much “command” in the world that takes the form of control by force, whether it’s military, political or in systems and institutions that work against equality and equity for all.
On Maundy Thursday last week, we received a new commandment from Christ – that we love one another. This new commandment is not one of pure force but the compulsion of love. Theologian Karl Barth puts it this way:
“The commandment of God sets people free. It gives people permission. This is the only way it commands …. It will not appeal to their fear but to their courage. It will not meet them with mistrust but with trust …. This is true because the commandment is the shape of God’s grace: the gentle yoke and the light burden, and to take them on simply means enlivement.”
And so we “live” as Easter people. We find ourselves in the swell of Eastertide. Where might that tide take us in this season of 50 days that stretch on well past last Sunday? Here are a few ways to “live” into this commandment as a community of faith.
Comfort For a Family in Grief
We affirm the assurance of the resurrection as we grieve with a member family. A visitation for the Pulley family, on the loss of Arthur’s son Michael, will be held tonight, 6-8 p.m., MCEWEN FUNERAL SERVICE-DERITA CHAPEL
6300 MALLARD CREEK RD
CHARLOTTE, NC 28262-2216
A memorial service will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 p.m., at Denver United Methodist Church and can be viewed online here. You can read the obit here. Send cards to Arthur and Holland Pulley at 1509 Woodhill Lane, Charlotte, NC, 28205.
Meals for New Parents
We have a new baby at Caldwell – Ethan Downing, grandchild of Peg Robarchek. Ethan’s parents, Elizabeth and Nathan Downing, plan to raise Ethan among us at Caldwell. They could use a few meals as they get used to life with a newborn and as Ethan recovers from a bumpy first few days. Can you help? Here is a link with all you need to know. www.TakeThemAMeal.com/IZUZ0219 .
Builders for Zoraida’s House
In the coming days, we turn our attention to recruiting volunteers for our Habitat build day, Friday, April 16, when we will be installing siding on member Zoraida Stewart’s new home. We have room for five or six more volunteers. Advance registration is required.
Plan to be at the job site at 8:00 AM sharp, and be ready to work a full eight-hour day, ending at 4:00 PM. We will have a lunch break. Ann Alford, Carol King and Reita Pendry have volunteered to prepare lunches for all of us and bring them to the site! Bring your own water or drinks, and try to avoid single-use water bottles.
Masks must be worn on the worksite at all times. Want to help? Contact Woody Connette at Woody@essexrichards.com to receive more information, including site location, how to register, etc. Or you can call Rachel Eldridge, 704-258-6033.
No Porch or Vespers This Week
We will suspend the Preachers’ Porch and Vespers for a while as staff tends to other needs. Attendance at both had dwindled so we are giving them a rest. Don’t forget, though, that the ACE Sunday School Class starts a new book Sunday at 9:30 and the dialogue about John’s new book resumes Sunday at 6 p.m. Watch for all the details on that and more in Caldwell This Week later.
Observer Coverage
Did you see the great piece in the paper about the calling and profession of member Joan Kleinmann and her team at HopeWay? You know Joan from the choir. Read the piece here as it explains how she works as a music therapist to help others find peace, healing and wholeness through the gift of music.
Also, from the Observer, I was grateful for the chance to share the word about what God and all of you are doing at Caldwell in a recent interview. It ran in the print edition on Sunday, a wonderful echo of the Miracle on 5th Street Easter front-page story in 2007 that brought us many new members. Thanks for all the miracles you have participated in since then and into the future. Read the interview here.
In all these ways of being community together, we are reminded of the fullness of life and God’s invitation, as Barth said above, to enlivement – birth, death, the promise of home and the opportunity to serve. All of it is covered by grace.
Happy Eastertide.
John