Merging is a New Journey - I took a Break!

Looking down to the Hudson River from the Locust Grove Estate (6/2020)

As an active church-goer, and now a church-viewer, I would only take three Sundays off a year.  One, when my sister, brother-in-law, and niece would attend the annual March for Babies...two, Opening Weekend at work...and three, New York Comic Con.  Because I wore so many hats, I tried not to miss any other Sundays, even if I wasn't feeling well, had been out late the night before, or for any other reason. 

Since this weekend was so nice - sunny and cooler than it has been - I took Sunday off and went to Locust Grove to walk the trails, something I have been wanting to do since I went on the house tour a couple Christmas Breaks ago.

I know, shame on me.  I not only had a service prepared by Annual Conference leadership I could have watched but I also had a Lay Leader I could have supported and watched.

But, I felt like I needed the break.  I needed some time to myself to be with nature.  And essentially cross something off my unwritten bucket list.

So, how is this related to merging?

Well, I think I am starting to learn to rest and not feel like I have to volunteer to help with everything.  I am starting to learn when I need a break for myself, and that I need to take that break.  I am learning that, yes, church is extremely important and I can't be taking this break every week - but sometimes it is nice to experience God in a different way.

Sunday I experienced God in nature.  Through the sounds of silence, birds, wind in the leaves, water running by in little streams or down small rock embankments, in the train that went by, and yes even in the kids who were running down the trails very far ahead of their parents.

I do plan on going back and watching the recording of both services I had access to.  But I think in this strange time, where I have spent most of my days in my room behind a closed door working the best that I can, God was calling me to spend time with Him outside where I could pray and contemplate and see where He has me going to next.

Merging is a New Journey - It is Official

Pastor Sandy receiving a quilt from Bible Study members - Photo Credit: Bob Boisvert

It is funny how a single image can bring forth such memories.  I talked about this a bit in my last blog in the Merging is a New Journey series I have been writing.  The image above was taken after members of the Bible Study group at the time presented our Pastor, Pastor Sandy Mantz, with a quilt they had made for her.

For me, I was working with the youth group along with Pastor Sandy.  We had a meal prior to this, and were planning to drive to an event afterwards.  So it brings back all my great memories working with numerous youth over the years either in youth group or confirmation class.  Some I have kept up with, thanks to Facebook.  Others, not so much.  Though they all remain in my memories and I hope, where ever they are, they are doing well and staying safe in this time.

We received word early this morning that our merger is official.  The journey we have been on is almost over.  There are still some things that remain and due to the world we are in, a lot of logistics that still need to be addressed.

We try not to think too much of the past and the way things "used to be" because they will never be that way again.  But remembering fondly the memories is not necessarily a bad thing.

I have great memories of singing in the Junior Choir, and some of those songs are still in my head today (Today is Monday, so I can't do anything 'til Tuesday, so I guess I'll start on Wednesday, but Wednesday's my day off....there's always Thursday, but I'd rather wait 'til Friday, and I sleep late on Saturday...)

Peeling potatoes, washing dishes, drying dishes, running food from the stove to the kitchen window, and tasting the dressing for the cole slaw before it was added to the food.

Rolling under pews.  Playing sardines around the church.  Learning how to navigate the sanctuary in the dark.  Singing.  Reading.  Preaching.  Praying.  Lighting candles.  Greeting.  Hugging.  Waving.  Smiling.  Crying.  Learning.  Growing.

All the while, praising God and honoring God and showing love for God.

When all this is finally finished, maybe my new series will look at the memories I had.

But for now, I look forward to the future.  And I remember the new memories.

A pancake dinner before everything went crazy.

Ash Wednesday service where I poured my heart out to God in prayer, cried, bruised my leg on a pew, and reconnected with Polly James.

Watching service on You Tube and eventually Zoom.

Online Communion.

Dropping off a photo of myself on a plate so Pastor Jody wasn't alone.

Singing loudly in my room during worship and not caring if I sang the wrong notes.

Praising God in a new way.