Minister’s Notes

I’m watching you… It’s one of my favorite things on Sunday mornings, actually: watching you. If you haven’t already, I hope you get to see this community from my perspective. I get these glimpses as I am reading, praying or preaching with you all. For example, the other day after a somewhat tearful Joys and Concerns by one member, out of the corner of my eye I noticed another person on the opposite side of the sanctuary stand up, walk out and then back in through another door to sit next to the person who was teary eyed. Or sometimes when I first walk in I’ll see someone sitting all alone and I worry for a moment that they may feel lost and lonely, but then just a few minutes later someone has joined them and they are chatting away. I’ve seen you help newcomers find their place in the right hymnal and introduce them to others. I see that some of you have places you always sit, but graciously give way to new people if they get there first. I’ve seen people arrive a little later in the service and I wave, just delighted they’ve come. I look out and I see people grinning at me or nodding their head. Sometimes I see people with their eyes closed, perhaps snoozing or maybe just taking it in. It’s all wonderful! There’s a full spectrum of humanity on Sunday mornings. It makes me feel like I’m part of something very precious: a beloved community. Do you see that too?

And I miss you when I don't see you there. Really! I'm just as used to seeing you in “your spot” as you are in being there. I wonder where you are and send out little prayers that you are having a wonderful time wherever it is. So if you see me on Sunday morning grinning, you now know why. I’m just happy to be here with you all. I hope you are too!