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Dear Centenary Family,
This is an exciting Sunday for us as we welcome Carina Brackin as our new organist and choir director. We look forward to worship with Carina and to spending some time with her, her husband T.J., and their daughter Norah after worship at a reception in the social hall. I hope you’ll plan to be here for this special occasion. I hope you might also consider joining us for the study Being United Methodist Christians. We’ll get oriented and acquainted this Sunday morning at 9:00 am. Our discussion will start at 9:15 am. We’ll meet in the Church Library on the second floor. And we’ll offer this class in an online setting starting this coming Thursday night at 7:00 pm. Even if you can’t come this Sunday or Thursday, or make all the sessions, I hope you’ll join us as you’re able to. One final note on events. Our Cluster Charge Conference is next Sunday, October 15 at Reveille United Methodist Church. I’ve given the wrong time, however, in previous posts. The correct time is 6:30 pm. rather than 7:00 pm.
I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for the opportunity I’ve had to visit Scotland and London. I’m very grateful to all those who worked hard to keep things going while I was away. I’m especially grateful to Pat Shipley and Bob Blinn for preaching and leading worship and to Laura Nealley for keeping a firm grip on all the administrative details that keep things moving from day to day.
We covered a lot of ground. This is the first time I’ve travelled outside the U.S., except for a trip many years ago to Niagara Falls. I found this to be spiritually renewing—and challenging. We saw much beautiful scenery in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands. And we got to experience the vibrance and diversity of the cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London.
We had the opportunity to worship at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and Westminster Abbey. We got to visit Wesley Chapel and Wesley’s house in London. I am sure that as I continue to process all I saw and learned, you’ll hear about some things that have helped me think about my own faith and the role and mission of the church in our time.
One of the interesting places we visited was the Glasgow Cathedral. Located in the heart of that city, the Cathedral was consecrated in 1136. It is still a place of worship and mission today. The site of this great Cathedral encompasses the burial place of the patron saint of Glasgow, Saint Kentigern, more affectionately known as Saint Mungo (which means dear one or little one). There are beautiful murals painted on large buildings depicting Saint Mungo in Glasgow.
I thought about Saint Mungo as I have been finishing the sermon for this Sunday based on Philippians 3:4b-14. Paul is reflecting on his feelings about his privileged upbringing as a devout Pharisee and how he had to “forget what lies behind” (vs. 13) so that he could “strain forward to what lies ahead.” Some of us are called to let go of our sense of status and privilege when we decide to follow Christ. Others of us are called to let go of feelings of inferiority or unworthiness and step into our identify as sons and daughters of God in saying “Yes” to Jesus’ call. I think Saint Mungo might have been in the latter group.
I’ll let you decide where you find yourself and what you need to let go of so your heart and hands are opened to receiving the gift of life God wants to give you.
I hope to see you Sunday!
Peace,
Matt
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