This week at First Church: To Build a Fire

Beloved,

It’s a cold week here in Winterville. Your warm reception to us weary Mexico Missioners last Sunday gave way quickly to the dull damp chill of Febrmarch. Just 6 days ago, we sat in a quiet, grassy, sun-dappled courtyard in Guadalajara, kindled with the desire to alleviate suffering among the children of the Casa going forward, kindled with a passion to keep our newfound connections alive, on fire with an awareness of God that seemed deeper, stronger, realer to us than She has been for years, perhaps ever.

Then, Febrmarch. Throughout our lives, we come close to the fire, feel our joints melting, our flesh thawing, the heat on our faces. Inevitably, warmed, we fall asleep near the fire, and when we wake, most of the time, the fire’s gone out. How do we keep the fire alive? How do we maintain our connection to God, our passion and commitment for the poor, when all along our own needs and normativity call us back into sameness and self-absorption? How do we keep moving forward on this journey, so we don’t die of cold in the wilderness? It was a real question for the Israelites in Exodus, from whom we draw wisdom this Sabbath (Exodus 13:17-22). It is a real question for us.

14 of the 17 missioners will lead worship this Sunday. Keisa waves from Kentucky; Jen and Matthew will skype in by sound from his mom’s home in Alabama. The rest of us will be present to try to communicate, using words if necessary, what happened last week at the Casa San Jose orphanage, how you were a part of it, how you can be a part of it, what it might mean for your life and faith. Our liturgist is Liz, our preachers are Pete, Jamie, Becca. Melissa. will take the offering. Erica and Rafe will offer a time for children. Owen, Sophia, Jen , Andrea and Gary will read. Pete, Steve H. and I will reprise our Casa pickup band of trumpet, recorder and  uke.

You will taste and see, something of what we tasted and saw. We hope you will take credit for it, you who made it possible, you Body of Christ. We pray you will catch fire and not rest until you have gone for yourselves, until you too have felt those warm, small arms around you, and known the touch of God.

After church: a lunch for those discerning the future of re/New, begins at 11:45; Cantata rehearsal at 12:30, and mission team redux at 2:15p to keep the fire alive.

Christlove
Molly