I visited my brother Mark’s family homestead in the Colorado mountains last month – my first visit since wildfires ravaged hundreds of thousands of acres surrounding his cabin last fall. The miraculous seedlings and sprouts of the first spring after fire have already grown deep roots and begun to flower. The tips of some tall pines, with burned trunks and brown needles are showing fresh green. A vast number of trees will not survive, but for each of these there are now scores and scores of seedlings.
Many, maybe most of the fire-hardy aspen were burned to dust, yet their networks of roots survive and new aspen shoots fill the fire-swept forest floor.
We’ve all been and continue to be in a landscape scorched by pandemic and discord – the mental health of humanity is wounded and suffering – yet in accepting and following the teachings and ways of Jesus Christ we can begin each moment anew, allowing the seeds of God’s good in each of us to sprout and flourish and be demonstrated in our thoughts and by our actions. (We can try anyway.)
“I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord” Jeremiah 30:17
Being in the Congregation of Central Christian Church is a wonderful, comforting source of strength. As Disciples of Christ we are called by Jesus to honor God by loving our neighbors – each of us unique curiosities and contradictions shepherded together as our Church. As we continue to learn new ways to worship we rediscover proven ways of demonstrating our faith – being as intentional to be Christ-like in our daily actions and encounters beyond church walls as we are in our Sanctuaries of worship.
If you have not yet been physically present in our Community Room, please consider joining us soon – we are wearing masks, the air is filtered, we are sitting apart yet together in pods – and hugs are optional as we pass the peace of Christ between us; the live music is exquisite.
We are receiving visitors, too! Folks who have passed by before and folks who live near. Come, please welcome them!
Pastor Layne will be sharing his thoughts with us after church on August 29th; we have an Administrative Council meeting August 17th at 7 – please join us for both as we discuss ideas, plans and projects for being and becoming an ever more dynamic demonstration of Jesus Christ. We are working together to enhance our relationship with the ASVPA, our lease arrangement with Providence Church has ended, and we are blessed to explore other opportunities for our community to experience our church, inside and out.
Our tomato harvest has slowed and will soon stop with the summer heat, but we still have a prolific crop of green beans, herbs and okra (if anyone wants to come down to help harvest, many thanks). All are welcome everyday to harvest food and flowers, or just sit in gratitude and worship.
We are the diverse congregation of Central Christian Church.
Be well.
Phil