Dear friends –
This past Sunday after worship we held the final membership class, New to A2U2. Church leaders from various areas of congregational life joined us to share about what they do and what it means to them. The room was full, and it was a delight to hear from so many people about the spiritual practice of doing church. At the end of our session, 7 newcomers signed our membership book. A few others couldn’t be there in person or plan to sign at a later date.
So please join me in giving a warm welcome to Tim Schick, Shirley Curry, Sally Littlefield, Bill Burge, Dale Reynolds, Caitlin Sullivan, and Dan Poulin when you see them! We will have a new member ceremony in worship this Sunday to welcome this first group of members, and another later in the month. Each time a member joins our congregation, we as a community change and are made new. Let us celebrate this holy process of change and bee-coming!
Speaking of bees… we’ll also be kicking off this year’s stewardship campaign on Sunday. Our service will explore stewardship and communal life using the imagery of a beehive. Two of our A2U2 beekeepers have even offered to share some wisdom with us! Between the kick-off, new member celebration, and reflections from the hive, you won’t want to miss this celebration of all things community.
I leave you with a poem by Alberto Rios – “When Giving is All We Have” –
We give because someone gave to us.
We give because nobody gave to us.
We give because giving has changed us.
We give because giving could have changed us.
We have been better for it,
We have been wounded by it—
Giving has many faces: It is loud and quiet,
Big, though small, diamond in wood-nails.
Its story is old, the plot worn and the pages too,
But we read this book, anyway, over and again:
Giving is, first and every time, hand to hand,
Mine to yours, yours to mine.
You gave me blue and I gave you yellow.
Together we are simple green. You gave me
What you did not have, and I gave you
What I had to give—together, we made
Something greater from the difference.
Making “something greater” with you is a joy.
Until I see you, may your days be blessed.
In faith,
Rev. Tara