from the pastor

September 1, 2002

It is about 7 a.m. and the sun, still orange, has just appeared over the tops of the neighborhood trees. It is that orange/green time of the day: orange sun, green grass, squirrels hopping in the backyard, mourning doves gathering nest scraps in the front yard, and a faint ringing noise from some undetermined insect all around. There is a crispness in the air, and I have opened all my windows in order to feel it. The outdoors is quietly alive--quiet enough so I can still hear the ticking of the mantle clock on my desk. And I am faced with one of the first dilemnas of the day: to yield to nature outside, with its rhythms oblivious to our minutes and hours artificially dividing time--or yield to the mantle clock, beckoning me to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ--an hour hence--so that we might share space and time together in Christ’s spirit.

I took Alison to DePaul University (in Chicago) yesterday to start her freshmen year. So both daughters are now in college and I am officially an empty-nester. We got to bed the night before around 1 a.m., after the last load of laundry, the last trip to Walmart, and the last review of her checklists. We got up at 5 a.m., in order to get to Chicago and be at her dorm at 9 a.m., so she wouldn’t get the worst bed in the room. Or some such reason. I had to leave before noon in order to get back for an afternoon wedding in Urbana. But by the time I left, she seemed settled in. I talked to her last night, and her number one anxiety seemed relieved: she had met her two roommates and they both seemed very nice.

Today is the start of a new Sunday School season. We appreciate all the teachers and students who make up our Sunday School. We are hoping this will be a year of learning, fellowship, and growth throughout the Sunday School. Our teaching staff includes: Carol Brown in the nursery, Brenda Carter and Ann McHenry in the younger pre-school, Marilyn Wright and Michael Shepherd in the older pre-school and kindergarten, Karen Knight and Rose McCarthy in grades 1-3, Richard King and Jill King in grades 4-5, Joan O’Connel in the middle school, Pat Zeibart and Ron Weidner in the high school, Jim Ferguson in young adult and college, Barb Wood in the Forum adult class, June Schwartz in the Seekers adult class, and Bobbie Ford in the Wide Awake adult class. Our Sunday School rally day will be October 20, so join us as we build toward this celebration.

Luis Garcia, our missionary in Chile, will be with us this Wednesday evening for a potluck dinner and presentation. We sponsor the Garcia family in their work in Chile. A part of our sweet corn mission money goes to their work. Please plan to join us that evening so we can add the personal connection to our mission work.

On Wednesday, September 11, our WellSpring service will include a special remembering of the events from last September 11. You are welcome to join us and invite guests that night.

--Mike

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