Dear Caldwell,
Greetings on this gorgeous Friday.
Growing up in Atlanta, my houe was directly across the street from the campus of the Catholic cathedral, Christ the King. One block further was a big United Methodist church called Second Ponce DeLeon. These church names became common terms at our house. I was always running out the door to go play ball at one of the churches’ gyms, hollering out to my mother, “I’m going over to Second Ponce.” Or “I’ll be at Christ the King.” It was like saying I was going to the Y or a neighbor’s house.
As an adult, I’ve become reacquainted with the words ‘Christ the King’ as a simple statement that Christ alone has the right to claim our highest loyalty. This Sunday, in fact, is Christ the King Sunday on the liturgical calendar, the last Sunday before the start of a new church calendar year with Advent. We can think of Christ as both the end and the beginning, the Alpha and the Omega, as Christ said of himself. This Sunday, we look back and give thanks for another year of Christ’s reign over the church and the world; we also look ahead in hope to Christ’s birth and incarnation, usherin in the kingdom of God. In her sermon, Veronica will have more to say about all of this.
On Sunday, the Congregation will hold its annual meeting to elect a new class of elders. Four people have been nominated by the Elder Nominating Committee, which carefully considered more than four dozen names. This is a brief but important gathering for us to affirm God’s call on these individuals.
Also Sunday, we’ll share in a covered dish lunch. While we are eating, we will be invited to think together about what should follow our 4×4 groups. In that wondrous way things seem to happen around here, these small group gatherings have deepened our relationships and invited us into some intimate conversations. We’re excited about what might come next. Come and share your ideas.
Finally don’t forget that we have two wonderful Thanksgiving services in our community next week. Mecklenburg Ministries holds the city-wide interfaith service on Tuesday night at 7 at St. Paul’s Baptist Church. This gathers about 1,800 people and is a true celebration of what all faiths have in common. On Wednesday night, the Elizabeth Communities of Faith will hold its annual joint Thanksgiving service at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. The collection from this year’s ECF Thanksgiving service will go to benefit the Salvation Army Shelter at Caldwell.
We were so pleased to welcome four new members into the congregation last week: Troy Bowles, Beth Johnson, Jessica McQuillen and Jane Wallwork. Please make a point to introduce yourself to them on Sunday if you have not met them.
Over all of this, Christ the King reigns and rules. For that we can truly be thankful.
John