Stirring Ashes, Tearing Down Walls

By / August 13, 2014

??????????Dear Caldwell,

What a rich and meaningful time we had Sunday when ‘cousins’ Jimmie Lee and De Kirkpatrick shared their story of dialogue and reconciliation – and their faith – with us in worship and over lunch afterward.

Using Jimmie Lee’s idea to call their ongoing conversation “Stirring the Ashes,” I witnessed the stirring of hearts, souls and minds as you all engaged in your own dialogues, considering questions such as “What is your first memory of being aware of race?” and “Where do you have unfinished business in your life in regard to race?” I’ve heard that those conversations continued in members’ homes later that Sunday. Thanks be to God for this great “launch” to the Discipleship of Race and Class initiative. Stay tuned for more events to come that keep the conversation going. If you’d like to keep it going right now, please come to the Prayer Room tonight at 6 p.m. for a “Living the Sermon” dialogue that will draw on Sunday’s experience.

Elsewhere in the life of your busy little church, many members and our choir are “stirring” in other ways to get ready for the Pride Festival this weekend. Thanks to all who have signed up to be present for the Caldwell booth on Saturday and to march in the parade – float and all – on Sunday. In particular, we are grateful for the leadership of Ryan Kingston, who coordinated the Interfaith Pride worship service Sunday, and Johnny Johnson, who is coordinating this weekend’s activities. We were particularly honored to host Mayor Dan Clodfelter Sunday afternoon, whose words about peace in our city touched many.

It's amazing what can be accomplished with the right tools. The demolition crew has almost finished knocking down the old nursing home that is behind our property. Meanwhile, with the right spirits and hearts, we can tear down walls that might otherwise separate us.
It’s amazing what can be accomplished with the right tools. The demolition crew has almost finished knocking down the old nursing home that is behind our property. Meanwhile, with the right spirits and hearts, we can tear down walls that might otherwise separate us.
Evie is preparing to preach this Sunday, revisiting the idea we discussed earlier this summer of what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ “glocally” – this time with a particular focus on how genuine relationships can be the most powerful way to tear down the walls that try to divide us. (Don’t worry – we will be out on time to get to the parade.)

Thanks to each of you for your courage, vulnerability and integrity as we all seek to walk more closely with our God by walking more closely with each other, amid our similarities and our differences.

In Christ,
John