Hello, church,

There are moments, in our life together, that are holy time.

On Tuesday of this week, our Leadership Council meeting was attended by close to 40 people. The Leadership Council is the governing body of EUMC, representing the range of our administrative committees and ministry teams.) On the agenda was the issue of whether our congregation should authorize the use of our sanctuary for same-sex marriages, now legalized in Washington State.

What moved me deeply was the quality of the discussion. What could have been a mean-spirited debate turned out to be...holy time. As individuals rose to speak, a spectrum of positions was expressed. It was acknowledged that persons of sincere faith can and do disagree on this issue. And we were all humbled and amazed by the personal stories that were shared, the risks taken, and the spiritual depth from which all of the speakers voiced their differing views.

What could be more gratifying to a pastor than hearing parishioners speak from the heart about their love for God and neighbor, their understanding of the Bible, and their best sense of the Spirit's leading in our time?

The motion passed. It reads, in part: "The Leadership Council of EUMC, consistent with our past decisions to be a welcoming, inclusive congregation, hereby authorizes the use of our sanctuary and facilities for marriage ceremonies to same-sex couples...We join with other Western United Methodist congregations to affirm the basic right of all loving couples to enter into marriage. We will honor and support such unions. We take this action believing that it is consistent with the teachings of Jesus."

The discussion was holy time, and I was glad of the outcome. But get this. After the meeting, two participants who had earlier expressed opposite views stood together talking. Their conversation ended with an embrace! For me, this was a vision of our church at its very best. If brothers and sisters in Christ can disagree on an issue, yet remain connected in mutual love and respect, we have something powerful to offer to this broken world.

We were on holy ground on Tuesday night. And as this holy season of Lent continues, I hope you are giving extra attention to your inner life with God. Check out offerings around the church intended to invite you into deeper spiritual practice: the candle-lit prayer space in the Chapel, the reflection pool and Caring Cross in the Entrance Hall, and the Art Hall's meditation on the life of Jesus.

In worship this week, the haunting music of "singing bells" will call us into prayer. I'll be preaching the second in a Lenten series on the spiritual life, with a sermon entitled, "Move at the Pace of Guidance." The Chapel Bells and Chancel Choir will lead us in music. I hope you will make it one of your spiritual practices to attend worship every Sunday in Lent!

Deep blessings,

Pastor Kathlyn