I attended the Christian Ed meeting in August. As we discussed Sunday School teachers, picked a theme for Rally Day, and planned a date for othe teacher luncheon, it began to sink in -- the call of my hopes and prayers has come, and I'm here! -- led by the Holy Spirit I've landed. Alleluia!
After floating for some time on the wings of faith, it is wonderful to touch down and be grounded where roots can grow and be nourished. I am so looking forward to doing ministry with you and am overjoyed, honored, and blessed to be called as your Associate Minister of Education and Faith Formation. I am looking forward to meeting with you, praying with you, and listening to your hopes for educaiton and faith formation at New Brighton UCC.
As we transition into an enriching life together, it is crucial to gather over meals and meet for coffee. As soon as September 1 arrives, feel free to schedule a time to do so!
With immense gratitude,
----- Amy Wick Moore
A Message from
Rev. Lou Bender
September 2009 Direction
Many of you have encouraged me and affirmed the gifts God gave me to work among you, and for that I am grateful. Many of you have kept a watchful eye on my daughters, and for that I am grateful. Many of you have shown me how much you love UCCNB< aznd for that I am grateful. Yet, even grateful, the time has come for the Benders to depart your company. My role model for interim ministry is Mary Poppins. You remember Mary Poppins, the famous nanny form the movies? She arrived at just the right time to work a little magic in the Banks family and, when the wind changed, she knew it was time to go.
I've needed little magic to work among you over the last eighteen months, except to love you anf wolk with you for a while. But most certainly I know when it time for me go. The wind is shifting, and the Spirit will work new wonders among you. My job is done, and a new chapter is ready to be written in your life together, on pages that I have helped prepare. By the time you read what I now write, I will no longer be one of your pastors. It's OK to be sad about that separation -- I know I am! We knew from the beginning this time would come, but that fact does not mean the leave-taking is easy. The girls and I will miss you. We've enjoyed our time here, and will think of you often and send a prayer your way as we discover what God has in mind for our next adventure. I will stay in touch with beth, so that you know where we land.
And yet, we must let go of each other. I came to prepare the space for a new minister, not to claim a space of my own. You needed some space cleared, physically and emotionally, for a new leader, a new way of being. Thank you for letting me borrow your hearts. You have changed me with your love, and I carry that with me always.
Perhaps the event we most associate with October is Halloween, which is at the very end of the month, and is not REALLY a religious or spiritual holiday (at least not in its current form). But as I look at the calendar I am struck by how many other very meaningful opportunities we will have this month to join together and to learn and grow in our understandings of and approaches to ministry.
Right off the top, on the very first Sunday, we have the wonderful “one, two” of celebrating World Communion Sunday in our worship together in the morning, and then celebrating (whether with our presence or with our prayers), Amy's Ordination in the afternoon.
In our morning worship, we will honor the fact that our communion table extends, spiritually, all around the world in many directions — that we celebrate this simple ritual and sacrament at the same time, and with very much the same intentions as millions of people around the world. It's a powerful thing!
And then in the afternoon, we will be part of the body of Christ that is the Minnesota Conference acting as an Association, ordaining one of its own into parish ministry. As the calling body, we can boast a special role in helping this event to come about. But it’s Amy, and her spiritual path, and the church that nurtured her growth all these years (Union Congregational, in Elk River) that are to be honored that day. I look forward to being among the throng that will witness this event.
There is another “one, two” that is happening in the Conference in October, that starts even before the aforementioned. Two seminars are being held for our learning and growth in dealing with being a multigenerational church (which I celebrate that we DEFINITELY are!). The first (offered Oct. 1-2) is a workshop on “Communicating Across the Generations,” and the use of technology, etc. The second (offered Oct. 30) is entitled “Ministering to the Missing Generation.” I know that Amy and I will be attending these, as will a few others from our church. Hopefully we will be able to bring information back to help us improve what we are already doing at UCCNB to make it an even more accessible and welcoming place. We are blessed that the Conference is investing in these kinds of learning opportunities for our churches.
On another level, we were invited, as one of the churches in the country with the strongest history and practice of giving to Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) over the years, to participate in an event entitled, “Equipping Leaders for Generous Congregations”, which will be held in Dallas, Tex. They invited us to send two people, and to be prepared to come back and share some of what we've learned around the Conference. Roberta Peterson and I will be attending Oct. 8-10. We will be among 50 people in attendance, and our way has been sponsored by the Conference. I made our reservations for this, however, in order to be back in time for FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS! —
The TALENT AUCTION! I am personally looking forward to this event. I have considered what kinds of talents I might offer, and have come face to face with that dreaded feeling of, “What if no-one wants what I have to offer?” What if I get up there and offer my talent, and no-one bids? It feels like the makings of a nightmare. But I've decided that it will be all right if this happens, because I want to have some fun with my congregation, and to support endeavors that encourage our creativity and our being together in fellowship and community. So, I'm ready to risk it! Won't you join me in doing so? It will be great fun! That's on the evening of Oct. 10!
In case that's not enough, there's more! October is just rife with chances to make a difference! How about walking in support of farmers? The Crop Walk will not be “just for kids” this year. We want to encourage everyone—individuals, families, groups of friends, to join in and share in this activity! It will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11, and will begin at Cherokee Park United Church of Christ at 1:00 p.m. Pledge forms and registration materials are available at the church. Come help make a difference just by walking!
Some of our folks will also be making a difference by being the “kitchen crew” at the Conference Youth Event at Pilgrim Point, on the weekend of Oct. 16-17! They’ll be cooking! They’ll be serving up nutritious and delicious morsels for the young people (some from our church) and their leadership (some from our church) to enjoy! Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts for a healthy and enjoyable time at this camp we are all struggling to keep active and in our midst!
And if that's not enough — finally, on the last Sunday of this month, we will be “kicking off” our stewardship campaign—Stretch andStrengthen Your Spirit and Your Church. There’s always a small bit of irony to this idea, because we are called to be good stewards of all our gifts, financial and otherwise, all the time, giving to the work of this church and beyond in all we do. Everything I have already listed in this article is stewardship. Every time we share, whether it’s our time, our money, our attention, or our love, we are participating in the stewardship of this church and our faith. But there is always also the need to be very practical and bottom line oriented about meeting our fiscal needs each year. We will be invited to do so on Sunday, Oct. 25. But as we approach that time, I invite us all to realize that, as I said in a sermon recently, our church is a living organism, and will thrive, or blossom, or struggle, or keep a status quo, dependent on how we nurture and provide for it to do so. Please take some time to prayerfully consider what you can give to the work of this church, and to allow yourself to dream big about the possibilities of programs beyond those we are able to do today. What do you see? Won’t you share that vision with us, and share in helping it to come about?
Now, if all of these have not inspired you in any way, then I invite you to just come and have some fun on Wednesday night, Oct. 28, when the Wednesday Night Program will host a Halloween party. Dress up and come join in some games and some goofy-ness! Come be part of a safe opportunity to be a little different, and to be with folks who offer their friendship and love.
This, after all, is what we are called to do most — offer our friendship and love to one another as we strive to be Christian community together. There IS so much happening in October. It's a busy month. But it is also just another month for us to worship together, study together, pray together, share meals together, and to grow in our spirits and friendships. I look forward to this part of the journey with all of you.
