Hello everyone!
As I mentioned last week, it is so exciting to be back! This is a lovely community, and I am pleased to have another school year connecting with you.
I have a couple of special projects that I'll be focusing on this year that I would like to tell you about. The first is a Spiritual Practice group, and the other is the revitalized social justice committee (both of these are still needing snazzy names!).
In the spiritual practice group, we will be starting with a question that John Wesley (the founder of Methodism) used in his own small groups, "How is it with your soul?" Every person in attendance will have an opportunity to share their answer to this question. It is a chance to check in and build our connections with one another, and it is also an opportunity to deepen our personal reflection and connection with God. Then, we will continue with a version of a Lectio Divina practice. In this version of the older monastic practice, we will be reading a piece of scripture (or contemporary religious/spiritual writing) three times. The first time, we will be listening for what resonates with us. The second time, we will be listening for what is challenging to us personally. The third time, we will be listening for a synthesis of the two, or a rising above the two that happens. After we listen to the reading these three times, along with their attendant reflections, we will share with the group what we experienced. Then, at the end of our time together, we will share with the group what we will take away from our time together into our lives. I'm very excited about this opportunity to meet with you and reflect together! This practice will be meeting at 6pm Thursdays.
In the second project that I'll be dedicating my time to, we will be revitalizing the social justice committee (new name pending!), and the congregation’s relationship with the world outside its walls. I'm hoping that the impact of this work will be: renewed vigor in the spiritual and public lives of BUMC congregants, an improvement in the lives of hurting people in the community, and a greater sense of community in the larger neighborhood. We will be beginning this work in earnest in October, when the congregation as a whole will have opportunities to brainstorm together about what cause/issue we are going to address. There are many challenges in our communities today, and I'm hoping that through broad involvement from church members, we will seed work that will have breadth and depth, and longevity. Eventually, there will be a weekly meeting of whoever is interested in being part of the committee, and that will be at 7pm Thursday evenings.
I am so excited to embark on another year with Broadway United Methodist Church! As always, feel free to reach out if you'd like to talk, address questions or concerns, or meet up for coffee or lunch! I look forward to seeing you in person and on zoom!
