Dear Caldwell,
Life in ministry is always full and most of it is life-giving. Of all of its roles and responsibilities, I cherish pastoral care with members in a special way. Lately I have been richly blessed by some quiet time with member Janie Lownes. Some of you may remember Janie from when she first came into our midst over a year ago. Not long afterward, during Black History Month, she shared the amazing story of her grandmother, a midwife in a small North Carolina town who came to be defended by a local lawyer when some of the town doctors decided they didn’t want her practicing midwifery any more.
Janie has missed being with us, dearly and deeply. A hurt shoulder has kept her homebound against her nature. “I was just starting to meet people. I was just starting to get involved,” she loves to tell me. “I need to get back there. I have things to do!”
The good news is that “Miss Janie”, age 85, came through shoulder surgery beautifully this morning and is resting at Novant Matthews. From there, she will go to a rehab hospital. I am counting the days until she is again with us in the pews, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
When I reached her bedside early this morning before surgery, I told her I could see nothing but peace in her eyes. She responded out of the abiding belief that she has professed since we met:
“I have put away fear. I have taken up faith.”
Those are good words in these days for all of us aren’t they – what what is happening in our world, our nation, our community? Fear and anxiety seem to have a stranglehold on far too many people – and fear and anxiety can lead to some unhealthy behaviors. Faith is the antidote, faith, as Rev. Dr. Steve Shoemaker taught us in his class this week, that is built on the promise that God’s “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians), whatever we are facing.
On Sunday, we open worship with shouts of “Hosanna,” as we waive our palms and recall Jesus’ “triumphant entry” into Jerusalem. Surely, underneath his courage, Jesus felt some fear that day. But, as we will see through the events of Holy Week, Jesus, like Miss Janie, “put away fear” and took up faith.
As we travel from Sunday to Sunday, we arrive in Jerusalem with Christ in worship this Sunday. We’ll hear our kids choir make a joyful noise. With Luke 19:28-40 as the backdrop, we will delve into one of the most important questions for any person of faith: Why did Holy Week have to go the way it did?
Before worship, Parish Associate Pastor Diane Mowrey leads a class for the newcomers on the roots of our tradition in the Protestant Reformation. Join in for a refresher on John Calvin, Martin Luther and the other “troublemakers” of their day. The ACE class continues its discussion of the Gospel of Mark.
Before church, you can also swing through the old fellowship hall beneath the sanctuary for an early preview of the emerging coffee house concept, due to open April 4.
Make plans after church to swing by a reception celebrating Intern in Ministry Henry Trexler as his internship approaches its end.
See you then.
In Christ,
John