I must admit I enjoy getting back-to-school supplies. The box of new pencils with their perfect pre-sharpened points; the two-pocket folders with perfect, glossy covers; the protractor needed this year for the first fourth-grade foray into geometry: I love the newness and potential these items represent. I love imagining the children's learning and discovery. I get excited over these new objects, ready to help on the journey of growth.

 

I get excited at this time of year for myself and for our church, too. After a summer of study, prayer and time away, I'm ready to jump back into the work and world of church. I'm excited to gather with all of you for worship every Sunday. I'm looking forward to visiting with you as your pastor, to joining you at social events, and even (dare I say it!) to committee meetings. The church year is a new year of learning, discovery and spirit, and I have my pencils sharpened and my new folders ready to go.

 

I want to tell you about some new things I want to try this year. First, your Directors and I will be starting a new group to bring more arts into our worship services and life together as a congregation. The Worship Arts Collaborative will hold its first meeting in October. Deb, Will and I will have some projects we hope people might want to work on for our Chanukah, Advent and Christmas services. We also hope people might come with their own interests and creativity to join with others to think of arts for future services. Ultimately, we hope ideas for bringing music, visual art, theater or dance into the worship services might start in this group and come to fruition in cooperation with your staff. Art is a spiritual practice; different arts invite different ways to connect with Ultimate Reality. Art in the worship service can be a spiritual experience for those who create it and those who experience it in the sanctuary.

 

Secondly, I am inviting members and friends to sign up to read the scripture passage during the service every Sunday. That same person (with their family, if they want) could light the chalice at the beginning of the service. Sign up to be the reader on an upcoming Sunday here or at the Welcome table in the sanctuary after September's services. I hope to have you participating in the service every Sunday.

 

Both of these ways of participating in the worship service are open to adults and youth, to members and friends, to people who think they're good at reading and those who don't, to people who know they are artists and people who "just like art."Together, we are the church, and the ministry we offer one another is the Love of the church at work.

 

Finally, a technical change. This fall, I'm experimenting with writing my sermons at home on Wednesdays. This is the next step in my ongoing practice of the spirituality of art: in my case, the art of writing and preaching. I do check e-mail on my writing day. I'll generally be in the office on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. If you want to meet with me, it's always a good idea to call or e-mail to make an appointment so we can be sure to get together.

 

The notebooks are stacked and ready; the crayons are arrayed in their boxes; the whiteboards are clean and waiting. We are ready with our gifts of creativity, caring and spirit to use these tools and gather as a church for another year.

 

In faith,

 

 

The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart

 

P.S. Please bring a small amount of water to share in our Water Communion on Sunday September 13. The Water Communion will be part of our multigenerational ingathering worship service. We will bless the water by our presence together and then use it to bless the earth (i.e. water the garden) during coffee hour.