Journey Stones

"So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever." (Joshua 4:7c)

As I approached the crest of Mt. Battie in Camden Hills State Park off the coast of Maine (after a moderate climb), I stopped to observe and to photograph the stacked stones.

I realize that such monuments are often memorials for persons who have met untimely death while mountain climbing and yet these simple stacks are probably just symbols.  But, I also realize that stacked stones are a way for the people of God to remember the faithful activity of God in their lives.  And so I stopped to remember...

Joshua led the people of God across the Jordon river, and they stopped.  They gathered stones and stacked them as a memorial to God.  In response to their faithful God, it was important that they never forget.

I stood still in my tracks by the stacked stones and remembered.  As I gazed out at the boat-speckled harbor in the distance, I remembered.  My eyes reached for the islands in the horizon, and I remembered.  With the dramatic beauty of creation before me and the joy of family vacation all around, I couldn't help but remember the faithful activity of God.

At the close of wonderful holiday week in Maine, I am grateful to have had time to relax, time for new experiences, and time to reconnect with my husband, daughter, parents, sister, and brother-in-law.  Most of all, I am thankful to have been able to remember--to remember that life is filled with gifts.  And these gifts bring undeniable joy!

I not only stopped to observe the stacked stones at the top of Mt. Battie, but my husband and I formed a new stack.  We claimed the practice of remembering not only in our thoughts but in our gestures.  And maybe our journey stones will help someone else remember too!

The Cross at the Center

It is simply a few weeks now until I complete my ministry service at Cashiers UMC.  I am teetering between North Carolina and England, and my heart is caught in the middle.  I shared some final words with the congregation in our June newsletter, which I have included below.

My eyes were drawn to its rainbow of colors—to its mesmerizing pattern. I actually saw the small shapes instead of only the large image. With the rays of the morning sun, I felt a warmth from the streams of glowing light. The details caught my attention, as if for the very first time. The sanctuary cross definitely finds a prominent place among us, and hopefully we do occasionally see it with a new perspective. I most certainly did.

While hearing the sounds of worship, I noticed. I caught a new glimpse. I received that image of the stained glass cross and all of its truth with new perspective. Although I have seen it numerous times before, it really was as if I was seeing it for the first time. I reflected on those small shapes, thinking about their purpose in forming the larger shape of the cross. I reflected on their different directions. I reflected on their distinct colors. God invited me through this fresh encounter with the cross to consider the life and shape of the body of Christ.

Then, I heard that little voice of Avery Morgan. She was before us, awaiting the waters of baptism. She was looking at all of us, and she was truly thinking her baby thoughts out loud. We all were watching and listening, as the water trickled down her head and her expressions traveled throughout the sanctuary. As she was carried towards the aisle to receive her special welcome into the body of Christ, her eyes were drawn to that brightly glowing cross, and in an instant she was silent. She noticed and caught a glimpse.

In this moment, I knew with even more certainty that this cross tells us something of the life and shape of the body of Christ. It tells us that even a little baby is welcome. It tells us that we are able to find our place differences and all. It tells us that our lives of faith are joined one by one by one. It tells us that there is more than enough room for each of us and for others.

As I prepare for my departure this month, I am grateful that the cross of Christ joined me with you and you with me. I am grateful that I found my place in the part of the body of Christ that is Cashiers UMC. By your faithful witness and practice, you have given me more than enough reason to trust that the body of Christ offers hospitality and kindness. This is immensely encouraging, as I finalize my plans to move to England and to find my new place in the body of Christ. I hold this truth of the cross close at heart and find comfort in the midst of transition.

It has been a joyous four years, and I sincerely thank you for sharing faith, ministry, and friendship. I deeply appreciate the time that I have had in ministry with you. I will hold dear the memories and will cherish our life together. I will depart knowing that I have formatively experienced the love of Jesus Christ in Cashiers UMC. And this formation will be a blessing, as I carry out pastoral ministry in England in Thatcham Methodist Church and Kingsclere Methodist Church.

I will be at Cashiers UMC until Sunday, June 22nd, and then I will close out my time in ministry that week with the youth on the summer mission trip. We will leave for England on August 6th and will begin our new ministry appointments on September 1st.

With the brightly glowing cross in the forefront, I will trust. I will give thanks. I will be sad. I will be excited. I will look back. I will look ahead. I will love. I hope that I will forever see the rainbow of colors, the mesmerizing pattern, and those unique shapes. I hope that the image of the cross will throughout my journey of faith bring me into moments of humbling silence. I hope that the streams of light will always offer comforting warmth. I hope that my memory of this cross will remind me over and over that there is more than enough room in the body of Christ. May we continue to catch a glimpse of this brightly glowing cross and know that it binds our lives together forever in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thankfully, I have a place in the body of Christ right now in North Carolina, and with trust I look forward to my place in the body of Christ in England.

One Hand and Three Fingers

I am now able to count on one hand the number of times that I will preach at Cashiers UMC before I complete my service on June 24th—three times to be exact.  It seems strange not only because it signifies the ending of a 4-year tenure in Cashiers but because I have been preaching unusually often lately.

My colleague in ministry has been away on a 6-week sabbatical (this partly explains my delay in blog-posting), so I have been solely responsible for the preaching and worship leadership amongst other things.   It has been a busy time but a gratifying time.   I have been sprinting from sermon to sermon; yet, I have now slowed to a single digit jog.

I am presently planning for the three—two Wednesdays and one Sunday—at Cashiers UMC. Yet, I am also to some degree planning for the quarterly preaching plan in the Newbury & Hungerford Circuit.  I have begun to think about this schedule because of recent correspondence with the Circuit Superintendent.  As strange as it may seem from this end of the Atlantic, obviously, he will be including me in the preaching rotation.

On September 1st, the sermon count will start all over again.  Until then, I will keep my eyes fixed firmly on one hand and three fingers.