Dear Caldwell,
It won’t be long now.
Come Sunday, as the Pentecost story goes, we will be “all together in one place” for worship – those who want to come to in-person worship outside and those who want to join online. It will be a glorious – but COVID-safe, wearing masks – reunion with lunch to follow.
If you are still a little uncertain, the recent congregational survey showed that 97% of respondents were fully vaccinated. Eighty five of you ordered lunch (feel free to bring something on your own if you missed the ordering window) so it will be a grand gathering. In worship and in community, we will celebrate Pentecost, the sending of the Holy Spirit as God’s third self-expression alongside Creator and Sustainer.
If you can help set up worship in the parking lot across the street, we could use extra hands and feet. Get to church at 10 and help create a holy place for others to enjoy. Text me if you can help at 704-957-4511.
In other ways, too, we will surely need – and experience – the Spirit going forward (but don’t we always?). In the days to come we will be figuring out when we can resume regular worship indoors, along with other activities. After that, we will need to turn to God for guidance on what “hybrid church” (that’s the phrase being kicked around by church professionals) looks like. We need that guidance to know how to reassemble in person as we have longed for and, at the same time, include and honor those wishing to participate remotely online whenever is reasonably possible. This goes for just about every type of church activity, including Sunday school and other Christian formation events, committee meetings and more.
So much about our post-Pandemic life remains to unfold. It’s a tricky question – how do we enjoy the warmth of being together in person and the human connection it allows WHILE we continue the good things we have learned about being church online. Stay tuned for more and feel free to let me or any staffer or elder know what you are thinking.
The Connectional Church
Another way we rely on the Spirit is by being what we Presbyterians call being the “connectional church” (I know, I know, another $3-dollar churchy word!). That means we value working together with and through our sister Presbyterian congregations. It means being present with and for each other as the Spirit blows in our bond as Presbyterians, who value and rely on the leadership of laypeople (not just staff) and who share in the governance of the church and our denomination.
This week that connection showed up in a happy mile marker for our Lia Benton. At a meeting of the Presbytery (our regional confab of about 96 PCUSA churches), she was approved to move from the first stage of development for ordained ministry to the second. Lia, a mom, professional and wife, makes it look easy. It’s far from it. But she wowed those gathered Tuesday and now turns from listening to an “inward” call to seeking an “outward” call that will place her somewhere in ministry. This final phase takes at least a year as she wraps up her study and listens for where God will put her to work. Watch for her more in leading worship, preaching, teaching and more as she stretches all those pastoral muscles.
Another Caldwell seminarian, Susan Pierson, is working hard to wrap up her divinity degree very shortly. She welcomes your prayers.
And … yet another Caldwellian, Sally Herlong, will be ordained as a minister this Sunday in her journey as she moves towards becoming a hospital chaplain. It’s a dream come true for her and the fruit of enormous sacrifice and dedication. She wants you to know you are invited to be there in person or online. The service is this Sunday, May 23, at 3:00pm at Oakland Ave. Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill. Or you can watch it online at the following links: www.oapc.link/Live; www.oapc.link/Facebook
Connection in Prayer
Yet a third way the Spirit connects us is through prayer, that mysterious but certain connection in our spirits to our Lord and each other. Thanks for your prayers for Richard Campbell, who had a very successful procedure to put in a new defibrillator. He’s good for another 100,000 miles.
We keep Dee Murray in prayer as she has sensitive back surgery tomorrow (Thursday, 5-20). Jane Wallwork got good news on her health. We keep Gregory Gardner in prayer. So many of you have showed the face of Christ to him. He is doing better and things look like they will settle into place. Thank you for your many kindnesses. He so deeply appreciates Caldwell’s unconditional love.
Watch for a full report on all other activities and details in Caldwell This Week on Saturday. Meanwhile … may the Lord be with you there.
In the Spirit,
John