Dear Caldwell,
As people of faith (or at least trying) there are so often two ways for us to view life: Do our spirits reflect the abundance we have in God (even when we may not have material abundance) or does our spirit reflect a view rooted in scarcity? On Sunday, we witnessed abundance.
With me sidelined with Covid and Gail and Anne secluded because they were briefly exposed to me before I tested, we had to scramble to change worship on short notice. Correction – Justin had to scramble, and he did so much more than that.
So many of you have affirmed Justin’s creativity, his positive spirit and his wife, Jessica Culpepper’s, superb reading of the cultural landscape from a faith perspective in their conversation about a woman’s God-given right to her own body. Add to that two stand-in members on piano – Jeff Cowden and Janelle Carroll – and two just-in-time young, pastors-to-be to prayer … along with the choir and a great kids’ message from Carol King.
It was another example of how many committed, able and inspiring people stand ready to serve the Lord on a moment’s notice. As Kevin Martin so aptly noted in the chat on Sunday, it was an “embarrassment of riches.”
As we move from Sunday to Sunday, today’s letter is a round up of a few things.
Faith and Reproduction: If you would like to know more about our denomination’s position on reproductive rights, and the long journey to that position, click here.
For Your Prayers: Tiana Scott and Paul Staber welcomed a baby boy yesterday, bringing a wonderful outcome to what had become somewhat of a complicated road to birth. Baby Boy’s entrance came with initial good indicators, though he is only 26-weeks. “Gramma” Doreen Byrd has gone to be with them in Charlottesville as they prepare for what’s next. Meantime, Marilyn Marks and Bob Atkinson welcome your prayers for their son, Whit, who suffered a significant head injury over the weekend. Whit has stabilized and is interacting with his friend and family while he continues to heal at a Raleigh hospital.
In the News: Today’s Charlotte Observer reports a rise in Covid cases and your Safe Return Ministry Team is paying close attention. At a meeting last night, it made several decisions and recommendations. Watch for a timely update from that team this week.
Come to Breakfast, May 19: As you may have read, Caldwell is hosting a timely breakfast for our ministry partner, Presby Psych, on May 19. It will focus on the mental healthcare and care-taking of our teachers after 2+ years of ever-changing Covid demands. We have a number of open and free seats to the breakfast, thanks to sponsors who have purchased tables and can’t fill the seats. The food, prepared by our Chef Randy Hood, and the program, featuring an award-winning teacher who is honest about the stress our teachers are under, should be a powerful combination. All that’s requested is a donation to Presby Pysch of your choosing to enable it to meet the mental healthcare needs of teachers and first-responders. If you would like one of these free and open seats, just contact me. I will keep a list and spread the open seats as far as possible.
“They will build houses:” Those words from the prophet Isaiah give title to a three-week sermon series I will preach beginning Sunday as I prepare to go on sabbatical May 31. As you may know (see prior congregational letter), I will be studying examples of where faith communities are building – or have built –affordable housing on their properties. Ours has been a long journey toward that goal and, if there is one thing we’ve learned, this work better be built on a clear trust in God and a strong foundation of faith. Because it’s not for the feint of heart! We will look at how scripture addresses notions of shelter, God’s provision, our call to care for all our neighbors and what it takes to build a house that lasts, one where God “is pleased to dwell.” If you have any thoughts or questions about that as a Biblical topic, I am all ears.
That’s more than enough for now.
In Christ,
John