Brother or Sister in Christ,
Twenty-five kids, ages ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade, just recently filled our parking lot for a Trunk r Treat. They and their families comprise Cub Pack 1232 and the church is their hub for weekly meetings. As this letter is penned, they’re about to scour the surrounding community to collect canned goods and non-perishables to help replenish local food pantry shelves and feed hungry mouths. One little one was overheard saying, “It’s cool how much good you can do in your town and all it takes is a little kindness.” One proud parent shared that her son, who struggles with confidence and self-image issues, has finally found a place where he excels and belongs.
This is his place. Oh, you may not see him on Sunday, but make no mistake—this is his place.
Students at Madison Elementary School will soon set foot on a brand new sensory-rich, educational playground that was formerly a vacant parking lot. Through the leadership and funding of our missional partners at the House of the Carpenter, teams of volunteers from this faith family, sister churches, and groups all over the Ohio Valley have lifted, arranged, and assembled play equipment that will provide our kids on Wheeling Island a great reprieve at recess. Some of those students from a fifth-grade class recently showered the primary construction foremen with thank you cards to show their appreciation for a place of their own. There’s that word again: A place.
In a roller coaster of a year that saw COVID continue to compromise so much of our communal life, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with and talking to folks who’ve experienced their fair share of turbulence, trial, and transition. Though the twists and turns in their paths were unique to them, their roads just happened to converge in worship at Christ UMC. It’s been remarkable to learn their stories, to get to know them, and to discuss ways in which their faith has and will be enriched alongside other brothers and sisters in Christ who, in the name of Jesus, live to transform the world and make it a better…place.
Knowing that the cross and his subsequent glory was coming, Jesus sought to comfort confused disciples with this promise: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn 14: 2-3).
If Jesus is who says he is and he did what he said he’d do; if he goes to prepare a place for us so that wherever he is, we may be also, there’s only one thing we can do if we take him seriously: Get busy preparing a place for others, so that wherever we are, there Jesus may be as well.
Friend, this letter is meant for two things: Celebration and invitation. First, as noted above, we need to celebrate the transformation of people due to the preparation of places. Secondly, I want to invite you to be a part—to aid our efforts in preparing places whereby others can glimpse the power of God. It’s too easy to assume that our mission is to get people to wherever the church is. What if that’s not the point at all? What if our mission is to be the church wherever people are? Given that, you’re not a church attender; you’re a place preparer for The Person the world hungers to meet.
Consider all the saints—past and present—who played a part in preparing a place for you to know the goodness of the Gospel and the grace of Christ Jesus. Next, join me and others (on Nov. 21st ) in making a commitment to be faithful to do the same. Commitment cards should be arriving at homes within the next week. If you are not signed up for our mailing list, you have the opportunity to give online. New this year is our secure, in-house online giving feature here.
Remember: On Nov 28th (the 1st Sunday in Advent), we will return to our traditional worship schedule: 8:30 am worship in the chapel followed by chancel & bell choir rehearsal, small groups, and children’s Sunday school at 9:45 am and then 11:00 am worship in the main sanctuary.
