United Church of Warsaw

The Move – Part II

When I last wrote to you, I was singing the praises of the moving team who packed up all our worldly goods and started them on their journey to the “new world.” With every possible contingency planned for, every last “I” dotted and “t” crossed, we felt that nothing had been left to chance, and everything was under control. Smooth sailing was assured…until the shipment actually missed its first connection, and there was no sailing at all! And, as is so often the case, one misfortune leads to another, and the second half of the move quickly descended into a “character-building experience.” The motto of the move quickly became – “if it can go wrong, it will, and with the greatest fanfare possible.”

Now if we are completely honest, we all pretty much dread “character-building experiences,” and run from them, if given half a chance. But the thing about “character-building experiences” is that they can be true to their name – they have the potential to build and reinforce important aspect of the Christian character. Each challenge invites a response, and the response is a choice. I can choose to respond in a way that embodies and develops that aspect of my character that is my highest and best self – Christ in me – or I can instead reinforce aspects of my character that do not reflect the light of Christ. My choice. My response is my choice each and every step of the way, and what I choose determines what I will be able to experience in the environment around me, as a consequence of my choices. God is infinitely patient – working with the consequences of whichever choice I make. It would be bliss if a week of snoozing at the cottage by the lake, with not a care in the world, promoted this kind of inner growth, but it seems that human beings need that little (or sometimes a lot of) grist in order to fully develop key aspects of our character.

At one moment of exasperation I sat – overwhelmed – in an almost empty manse, knowing that the movers wouldn’t arrive until after my husband left (not as we had planned)! Feeling sorry for myself, I said to myself, and to God, “this is a disaster!” And the response came back – “no this is an inconvenience. Darfur is a disaster. Iraq is a disaster. This is a moving truck that is a week late.” I then remembered that famous quote by Robert Fulgum that calls us to remember that there is a difference between a lump in your oatmeal, a lump in the throat, and a lump in the breast – one might be an inconvenience, and the other might be a real problem, and it is best not to confuse the two. Perspective restored, I had a bit of a laugh at how silly I had been, and resumed my tasks with a much calmer framer of mind, grateful for God’s gentle reminder. I had to actively return to that place of “calm” many times during the moving experience, but when all was said and done, the problems, in the grand scheme of things, were nothing more than an inconvenience. An epic inconvenience, mind you, but that was all it was.

God didn’t make the moving truck late, but God was able to use the experience to help me to grow a bit deeper and reinforce a healthier, holier ways of living. And because I didn’t get lost in a rant and rave about everything that went wrong with the move, I was able to experience the grace and blessing of those who were present in the midst of the experience to reach out to me in love and compassion – something I would have missed had I been all bound-up in anger and resentment. It would have been a terrible loss to miss the grace and blessings that came to me in the midst of the difficulties because I was blinded by anger and frustration. Many of those blessings came to me from you, members of the United Church family.

The good news is that each day is filled with just such opportunities – choices – for all of us to grow and deepen in our Christian faith. And God gently journeys with us, ready to quietly whisper that word of insight just when it is needed, or give that nudge to help us move in that direction which will help to bring about our highest and greatest good. Or bring someone into our lives at just the right moment, to minister to us just as needed. The Christian journey is a dynamic, living, growing, on-going partnership with God, who stands ready to accompany us moment-by-moment, day-by-day. It doesn’t get much better than that!

During these quieter days of summer, may we consciously choose to be open and aware of the many ways in which God is helping us to grow into that which we were created to be – our best and truest selves, who reflect as clearly as possible the light of Christ.

With love and prayer,

Kim

Please feel free to let Rev Kim know about any pastoral needs. If you are going into the hospital and would like a visit, or would like a home visit, or know of someone who is in distress or in need of a pastoral visit, please let her know.

______

Note that phone numbers for the manse (585-786-5687) and the church office (585-786-3868) are in the heading of every UCW newsletter. D.R.

Updates:

Five women from our congregation attended the Amazing Women Conference of Faith in Rochester June 2^nd, joining thousands of women from western New York, Canada, and other parts of the United States to worship God together. We laughed, we cried, we sang, and we listened to stories. What a glorious affirmation of faith!

Women of the congregation, please save the first Saturday in June, 2008 so that you, too, may enjoy the fellowship offered by this conference. Five of us will be returning!

More than 150 people joined us for brunch on Sunday, June 3^rd to help support our youth program! Master chefs Bob Blake, Steve Myer, and Steve Perkins cooked a variety of delicious foods. Thank you to all of you who provided sweet breads, rolls, and other sweet things and to all who set-up, worked in the kitchen, waited tables, ran errands, filled the coffee pots, cleaned up, etc. It was definitely a successful event raising approximately $675.00.

More than a dozen women showered grateful and appreciative Lori (Mom) and Isis (5 year old Starburst student) Allbright, our adopted family, with baby supplies and other goodies on Saturday, June 9^th. Dad Andrew is currently training in Colorado as he prepares for his deployment with the National Guard to Afghanistan. He is the crew leader on a Chinook helicopter. The entire family is hoping that Andrew will be able to attend the birth of their son before he leaves the United States.

Please keep this family in your prayers.

35 colorful quilts made by members of the Sewing Circle adorned

the sanctuary on Sunday, June 10^th when Reverend Kim Cran

dedicated their use as care quilts for needy children in Wyoming

County. The Sewing Circle will go back to work in the fall when

we hope others will join our efforts.

The Board of Benevolence believes in the old adage “waste not, want not,” so that became the excuse for the Father’s Day Luncheon when we served another delicious meal to more than 75 members of our congregation. Besides celebrating fathers, we also celebrated chief cook Bob Blake’s 49^th birthday with a rousing singing of “Happy Birthday.” Bob was dressed for the occasion in a lovely pink hat (he’s not old enough for a red hat yet) and skirt, much to everyone’s delight. Helping Bob (aka Bobbette) in the kitchen was Steve Meyer (aka Stephanie), and Dick Neeley (aka Danielle).

Again, we showed how well our congregation works as a team! Set-up Saturday night was completed in less than a half hour, and on Sunday, the Fellowship Hall was back in tip-top shape by 12:30 because of all the willing hands who contributed to the work done. Thank you to those who so willingly give of their time!

Coming Events:

Members of the 3 Boards (Session, Trustees, Benevolence) and all church committees, including Sunday School teachers and staff, and their families are invited to a picnic on Sunday, July 1^st at 4 p.m. at Jim and George Ann Carter’s, 4436 Wilder Road, Warsaw. Please bring a dish to pass; paper products and beverage will be provided. A sign-up sheet will be found in the East Room following worship to list those able to attend.

Please put these dates on your fall calendar:

Thursday, September 20^th 4 – 7 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner to benefit Youth Program and Habitat for Humanity

Sunday, October 14^th 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Chicken Barbeque

Sunday, November 18^th following worship Community Thanksgiving Dinner