Dear Friends,
Years ago a report regarding Reformed Churches in the Albany area entitled “Churches in Transition” sparked conversations within the denomination over the viability of many congregations. Although much of the report was thoughtful and stimulating, much of the reaction to it was a Chicken Little “The Sky is Falling”, overreaction that presumed that God’s Spirit is incapable of leading her Churches through transitions and, therefore, they would die. The point that was missed was that all Churches, all nations, all families and all individuals are in times of transition all of the time. Change is not to be feared, but embraced as the gift of God that it is.
Sometimes the changes are major and dramatic. This is the month for graduations and, in the middle of the celebrating, the perceptive parents and students realize that a page is turning that can never be turned back. September will bring many changes, some anticipated, some unexpected, but next year will be different from this year in those homes.
Sometimes the changes are minor and almost trivial. This has been a season of electronic transition imposed upon many of us as our cable company has shifted ownership and we have been busily emailing each other with “Here’s my new email address” notices. I’m now available at either CHRCJACK@GMAIL.COM or CHRCJACK@COMCAST.NET. Early reports are that the transition is going smoothly with only a few glitches along the way, although I received an email this morning that had been sent several weeks ago!
In our Church life we will be transitioning in our Church School as Michele Clover has stepped down as our Coordinator (many thanks, Michelle), with Ann Cucchiara volunteering to fill that role (many thanks, Ann). Velma has asked to be relieved of her Bell Choir responsibilities (many thanks, Velma) and we are anticipating someone will step forward (many thanks, You?).
Life is an ongoing series of transitions, some dramatic and some subtle, as we move from one set of experiences to another. We do our “dreaming and scheming”, as Brian Wilson put it in the 1960’s, but always in the light of the reality that Thomas a Kempis expressed in the 1420’s: “Man proposes, but God disposes”.
Enjoy the changes that God is bringing to our lives this summer!
Shalom,
Jack
