Have you ever heard Charlie Brown’s teacher talking? It sounds like womp womp womp womp womp womp womp womp womp… It turns out, it’s hard to recreate a noise using letters! Anyways, this is a little how it sounded to me when we were having a discussion on the budget at the Leadership Board Retreat.
It was a good discussion. It was fruitful, and ambitious, and cautious, and faithful. There were some around that table who do understand budgets, numbers, loans, interest, fundraising, building campaigns, lines of credit, and how to look at all of that from a faithful perspective and discern what to do next. There were also some around that table where budget talks took a little more brain power, including myself. Now, this might not give you much confidence in me, but I hope it gives you a lot of confidence in your Leadership Board. They serve God and God’s church very well.
It is also a great example of how the church is supposed to be. We are all gifted in different ways. Between the Leadership Board Retreat and the meeting we had with the Ministry Team Leaders, that truth was evident. People shared the fruits of their obedience to the gifts God has given them to serve the church. We got to hear about hungry people being fed, God’s house being very well cared for, God’s children learning about the love of Jesus and how to share it with others. We heard about people on the margins being prayed for and prayed with, helping to alight someone else’s heart to care for justice and mercy. We listened to stories of people receiving items for their home, their hygiene, and their hearts. Leaders shared life-changing moments and very clear signs of the Holy Spirit on the move in us and through us. We reached out, and in, and all around. We can say, with humility and faith, we answered the call of God for the life of our church and our communities in 2025.
Now, as we look ahead to a new year in the life of the church and as we enter the Advent season, we remember that to “Reach out, and in, and all around” is exactly what God did through Jesus Christ for the world.
I hope, during this very busy season, you are able to recognize in your own world the ways God has reached out, and in, and all around. May you see, feel, and hear God from within your own heart and from the people around you. I know that not everyone will face this season with joy and wonder, but I pray you are able to find pieces of it in your days. And I pray that we can all embrace the many different gifts in the people all around and embrace the gifts that God has given to each of us. When we can do this, as was evident in our recent gatherings together. We as a people and as children of God flourish!
Have a very happy holiday season!
From one light to many others,
Pastor Hannah M. Loughman