Dear Caldwell,
In these days when we move from giving thanks for the Lord’s abundance to patient waiting for the birth of Christ, the life of the church goes on in ways both familiar and new. On Sunday, Gail invited us to be stargazers and bold travelers, as with the Magi who followed a star to find Jesus at his birth. It was a good word for these days when we need a reason to keep our eyes heavenward and to travel with faithful courage, even when we don’t know where the journey will take us.
The work of the church calls for the commitment of all sorts of leaders, doers, organizers and others. As for leaders, I am grateful for your election of five people to join the session at the end of January. In case you weren’t at that meeting two Sundays ago, you can click here to see the names and brief bios of those who were elected.
It’s a major commitment to serve as an elder and we are all deeply grateful to these five individuals as well as their loved ones who will support them in this role. The elders-elect will begin in January with several preparation sessions to learn more about church polity and the values that undergird how we all both lead and follow here at Caldwell.
The One we follow is Jesus Christ, “who calls the church into being . . . gives the Church its faith and life, its unity and mission, its officers and ordinances . . . and is the hope and authority who frees us to live in the lively, joyous, reality and grace of God,” according to our constitution, The Book of Order. The years ahead will take us into new territory and will require us all to stretch and grow. As with the magi, who left all that was comfortable and familiar to seek a new king, we will do best to keep our eyes up and to trust in our faith as we travel boldly the road laid out before us here at Park and 5th.
When they are ordained and installed in late January, the elders-elect take vows to lead with “energy, intelligence, imagination and love.” We can all strive for these qualities in our community of faith. I invite you to begin praying for these friends as they prepare their hearts and minds, for those who continue on session and for those who are rolling off after fulfilling their duties.
Some New Residents
Next time you are on campus, you may notice that we have some new “residents” – trees that have been planted along the 5th Street side of the property and at the corner of 5th and Park. We’ve learned a lot about what happens when you pull a building permit with the City of Charlotte, one of which is that the permit allows the City to tell us what to plant where.
A committee of members received the City’s “proposal” months ago and negotiated as much as it could for what goes where, though their requests were limited by city codes for trees. The mix is several types of new trees, each a minimum of three inches in diameter, including several types of dogwoods. These come alongside an older generation of trees that are nearing the end of their lives, anyway. We will enjoy the foliage of our newcomers as they grow in years to come.
As for an update on the Community Hall, construction crews are working hard and long to wrap up soon. A committee is determining how to use our existing furniture, tables and chairs to help bring the meeting rooms alive. Another committee will retrieve our kitchen appliances and other kitchen items from storage. We’re waiting for an elevator inspector to come, all of which is routine. ALL of this is lasting longer than we expected. We will keep you posted about when we need help.
Where we DO need help is decorating the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas, this Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come for any or all of that time. It’s fun and great for building community and getting in the spirit. Hope to see you there.
Help for a Neighbor
A neighbor has reached out with an invitation to help. A chaplain at Novant-Presbyterian Hospital’s ICU has asked for snacks for families and staff spending the holidays supporting loved ones. As the pandemic stretches on, we are all so deeply aware of the ongoing sacrifices healthcare workers continue to make (along with their families). Here’s a chance to say “thanks.”
Feel free this week to bring snacks such as Cheeze-its, trail mix, granola bars, Lance or other crackers (salty rather than surgery snacks) to the church during business hours. If no one is able to answer to the door, leave them at the door marked “Office” and they will be brought in.
Yours in Christ, John