Luke 1: 37 "For nothing will be impossible with God"

Rev. Pat Megregian

I would like to start this story with, "It was a dark and stormy night". But, alas, it was a sunny, beautiful day when I started my trip to visit our churches in the western UP. In fact, it was so warm that it was clear that the invitation from Mike March and Dave Anderson to go ice fishing during our visit was going to be cancelled due to soft ice. Darn!

But, we did have a great time regardless of our cancelled adventure. Mary McClure, the Chair of the Committee on Ministry and I visited Mike March in Kingsford/Iron Mountain and had a chance to see their new addition to their church. It is a beautiful space that offers not only a place for the church members to gather but seems to be drawing the surrounding community into the church. The addition was more than a new physical space but has become a testament to the vibrant ministry and mission that is happening in Kingsford.
 

We drove to scenic Florence, Wisconsin to spend time with Rev. Doug Johnson. As we entered this quaint, old church, it was being cleaned and polished by church members for their new mission project, a community meal. I couldn't help but feel the presence of generations of faithful worshippers, living out and being a witness to the Gospel in this part of the country.

Sagola was our next stop where we met with Rev. Dave Anderson and members of his session. It was good to see some familiar faces from the elder gatherings. I can say that this was a joy filled and happy church. They had stories and pictures of Sunday morning worship, picnics and parties, motorcycle blessings, partnerships for food pantries, community dinners and responding to the needs of those less fortunate surrounding them. They are an exciting church and understand the needs of those around them.
 

We woke up Sunday morning in Iron River thinking there might be a bit of frost on the ground, only to look out our window to see heavy snow and 8 inches piling up. The UP had its laugh on us! First Presbyterian Church of Iron County and Commission Lay Pastor, Dawn Treado-Green had invited us to worship with them on Sunday morning. We were treated to hymns accompanied by a dancing 5 year old.

Pat Megregian and Gary Nelson

Leaving quickly after worship, Dawn and Herb led the way to Trout Creek, our furthest western church in the Presbytery. We traveled on the Federal Forest Hwy. #16 which we found unplowed, snow filled, and slippery. Once again, I was grateful for four wheel drive and snow tires. We arrived at a crowded First Presbyterian Church of Trout Creek for the celebration of the commissioning of Lay Pastor, Gary Nelson. The church had been cleaned to an inch of its life and a new sign adorned the front yard with Gary's name in bold letters. This is the first pastoral leadership they have had in almost 45 years. Several years ago, they had to close their doors due to lack of participation and leadership. The congregation decided they would have none of that, gathering their resources and strength, they began anew and opened their doors again. We in the Presbytery wish them every blessing in their new life with their new pastor.

Everywhere we went, we were treated with joyful hospitality. For me, it was a chance to listen to the joys and concerns, challenges and accomplishments of each of these pastors and churches. It was a chance to reconnect and meet new friends, help network congregations, talk about what the Presbytery and the larger Church was doing, but most of all, celebrate together their witness to Jesus Christ.

As I stood in each one of these churches, I sang to myself:

Blessed be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds 

Is like to that above.

Our life together in our community of churches is a precious gift from God. Whether we like it or not, we are called by God in Jesus Christ to live together sharing each other's burdens, forgiving each others sins as we all stand under the blessing of grace. We are placed here in this place, at this time, together in our churches, in this presbytery and even this denomination so that God can work with us to do what seems impossible: nothing less than to change the world.