“And they came, everyone whose heart was stirred,
Exodus 35:21
and everyone whose spirit was willing,
and brought God’s offering to be used for the tent of meeting,
and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments.”
Dear friends,
This November finds our beloved community again in a time of uncertainty and change. As the leaves change their color and fall to the ground, we “pull up our tent stakes” and journey back into the sanctuary after a long time of separation and worship outdoors or on Zoom. This month, we’ll be returning to our familiar worship space indoors, recognizing that like the leaves on the November trees, we, too, have been changed in these many months. What a special and sacred time for all of us!
November is a time of taking stock. With the children, we’ll be thinking about the lessons learned in this time of wandering and worshipping in different ways and places. With that new awareness, we’ll work together to create our indoor sacred space. Like Moses and the Israelites, we’ll be building a moveable “tent of meeting” in the sanctuary for the winter months.
Of course, this is also the season of thankfulness when we gather with friends and family around a Thanksgiving table to celebrate our blessings. For us in the Church, it’s a time to think about stewardship and the chance to offer our gifts in gratitude for all that God has given us and all the special ways the ministries of Edwards Church have touched us and others.
As we stake our tent poles in this new place, join us in experimenting with ways to continue to worship together as a congregation. This next leg of our journey promises to be an exciting one, so look for offering baskets and buckets, pillows and tent poles, joyful music making and special service projects learning about God and Jesus Christ in new and creative ways. Keep your heart open to all that God has in store and the curiosity and surprise that has taught us so much thus far on our wondering wilderness trek.
All of us, Christian Explorers, are learning the lessons of discipleship and stewardship in ways that have stretched us and changed us more than we could ever have imagined. It’s been hard work, but also deeply fulfilling. May God richly bless us as we continue on this journey, each giving as they are able and working together to create a Holy space for others to experience that transformational love. May it always be an expression of heartfelt thanks for all that God has done for us here among these people and in this place.
Gratefully,
Karen Nell