Exciting Times

                Last night (3/24), the leadership team and I finished three months worth of conversation about our church’s future. As I have said in previous articles/email updates/conversations, this process has required a lot of soul searching. We have looked at who we are, what qualities we have as a congregation and how they might relate to the community of Wellington that surrounds us.  The first part of the discussion was easy. Most of our leaders have been a part of this church for years. So we know all too well the gifts and qualities of our congregation. 

 What we were not so sure about was the nature of our community. Sure, we knew a little bit about it. All of our leadership lives around here. So they are well versed in what the City government is up to, the latest town gossip and some of the other big goings-on around here. However, in order to discover our town’s true nature, we needed to go deeper than these surface level issues. We needed to get to “the heart of Wellington” as our church coach, Rev. Beth Estock, would say. So we could understand the role God wants us to play in its future and vice versa. So, I challenged our people to dig deeper, to find this heartbeat. As a result, for the last month, our leaders went out to ask questions. We connected with people who don’t go to church to ask how they perceive faith and spirituality. We wondered, what are their opinions about the role of the church in our town? And how receptive might they be to our message when we take measures to broadcast it outside WUMF’s doors?   

We analyzed our conversations yesterday evening, and looked at some demographic data as well. The results are extremely promising in my mind. We heard stories about young people who grew up in the church, but are so busy that it is hard for them to get back. Then we discussed people burned by religion, those who got hurt in the past and are still spiritual despite their encounters. Finally, we heard about the people who turned away. They want nothing to do with church whatsoever and are quite content with life thank-you-very-much! Reading this, you might be wondering, what is so promising about these people? They don’t appear outwardly churchy. In fact, some of them appear downright hostile to us! This is true to a degree. But through taking the time to talk with them, we now know who they are and can craft the Gospel message to reach them. We can find ways to help resource young families who are travelling at warp speed.   We can help tend the wounds of those who have been hurt, and demonstrate a lifestyle that even those who will never cross our threshold will respect. 

We can be that church because we have found the heartbeat of Wellington, and we are going to do what it takes to make that heartbeat stronger.  

 I hope you’ll be there on April 5^th when Rev. Estock joins us to help us make these concrete plans. But even if you are not able to make it, know that you will soon hear about the ways God is leading us to connect with our town. I am confident that so many good things are in store for us and we are just inches away from uncovering them. Please pray for this, my friends, ask God how you can connect with us in this process. Or better yet, ask and see if God wants you to lead! What new avenues can God open up with your specific set of gifts and abilities? Yours may be the key to unlocking our vision, so seek the Spirit!

It’s an exciting time, friends, and I am blessed to be pastoring you in it.  Now, let’s see what happens!

Mardi Gras Thoughts

Tonight, as many of us know, is Mardi Gras. Perhaps for some of us it is Carnival, or for the church types out there (which I am guessing are the majority who actually stop to read my ranting), it is Shrove Tuesday.

Normally, we associate these festivals with hard partying and debauchery (especially Shrove Tuesday! We churchies know how to party ;) ). In fact, from what I can see of my old fraternity brothers on Facebook, this has not changed! For them, and many others, Mardi Gras/Carnival is just a time  to go absolutely nuts for a night for little to no reason.

This begs the question, why do we celebrate Mardi Gras? Why is there such a party that proceeds Lent, AKA one of the holiest seasons of the year?

To answer the first question (in case anyone was curious),  Lent is such a stark, austere time that it became popular in the middle ages to have a festival, or a "last fling," before the prayerful fasting and abstinence of Lent began. At these feasts people would eat rich, luxurious foods and drink the best wines because the next day would begin fasting leading up to Easter. This is indirectly where the tradition of pancakes for Shrove Tuesday came from. Often there were so much flour, eggs, milk  leftover that they only thing people could make with them is pancakes.  So now you can answer that question if it comes up on Final Jeopardy. I'll take "Obscure Religious Holiday Roots" for $100, Alex.

Now for the second question hidden all of this. Since these celebrations have such a wild, irreligious context, it is possible for us to find some sort of religious meaning in them?

Why yes! Thanks for asking! So whatever you are doing tonight, whether it is a Mardi Gras party, a Carnival parade or a wild-and-crazy Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper, let your feasting anticipate your fasting.  This way, it gives much more meaning to your actions. It creates a sense of anticipation, like an athlete eating a meal in preparation for a competition. Essentially, enjoy what your are doing and know that that the food we take in and the people we relate with will power us for something exceptional, namely, following Jesus on the final journey to Jerusalem and the cross.

This journey is difficult. It reminds us of our worst qualities, the brokenness and depth of humanities sinful nature. So let the wonderful memories of Mardi Gras/Carnival/Shrove Tuesday linger on through Lent. This way, we can take some good into the pain and anguish of Lenten repentance and let the encouragement it gives remind us that a even greater celebration is to come.

And don't party too hard, because you will lose this valuable lesson in the haze and end up in the broken column before Lent even begins! I'm talking to you, my fellow Delts.

Be safe, and blessings on all of you, my friends.

B-