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| Altar at PUMC on Sun. July 12, 2020 |
The hardest thing to do on Saturday, July 11th was that last drive away from the UMC of Wappingers.
The second hardest thing was the arrival at Poughkeepsie UMC.
Not that the drive was new, because I have been to Poughkeepsie UMC for various events and trainings. I have driven by the building many (many) times on my way home from work when I take back roads to avoid Route 9. But it was the first time driving there as an official member there, after so many years at Wappingers.
As the light left the former sanctuary in the hands of Pastor George Mangan, I started crying. As I turned the lights out for the last time, I was crying. As I drove away from Wappingers, I was crying. I had finally sort of stopped, until that last 1/2 mile on Route 376 headed to Poughkeepsie UMC when I started crying again.
It was a mix of reasons. Leaving the very familiar. A feeling of failure. A loss of purpose.
But it was not because I didn't feel welcome.
I did not have many opportunities to visit the church for a service prior to our merger. In fact, I had not been able to go at all until Ash Wednesday. But, there were opportunities to meet people from the congregation, and everyone from the moment they found out I was from Wappingers, were very welcoming and expressed excitement over the impending merger.
Ash Wednesday I was greeted at the end of the service by my former high school chorus director, Polly James. Back in high school I said to myself, one time after hearing her play something, that when I got married, I was going to have her play the organ. I didn't care where the church was or who the organist was at the time, she was going to play. I have told very few people that. I never got that opportunity, still being single. I did, however, get the opportunity to hear her play the organ though this past Sunday when she played as a prelude an arrangement of a hymn, which made me so very happy.
Back to July 11th, as I was crying yet again upon my arrival at Poughkeepsie UMC. As I pulled into the driveway, there was someone waiting to direct us to the parking lot - with a huge smile on their face waving a welcome. I had to laugh because there I was, driving in my own sadness, met with joy from one of many people who were honestly very glad that we were now part of their church family.
I was welcomed at the door by people who didn't know me, yet, but welcomed me just the same. And not just like "Oh you are new here so I have to be nice to you" but rather "We are so glad that you are here and part of our family!"
This welcoming continued on Sunday, July 12th when Poughkeepsie was able to have their first in-person Sunday worship service. And it continued still this past Sunday when I returned after two weeks away, covering for my former Pastor (George) at his other appointed church as he prepared to move to Long Island for his next appointment.
When we had new people attend our church at Wappingers, I always tried to be friendly to them and make them feel welcome. Not overburdening, so that they get frightened away. But enough so they know they are cared for and are appreciated. It is often a hard thing to walk into the doors of an unfamiliar church where so many people already know each other. I have definitely been made to feel welcome at Poughkeepsie. And I am looking forward to the time when I feel comfortable enough to return the favor and make others feel welcome when they first walk through the doors of the building.
