“Have you not heard …?”
Dear Caldwell,
I suppose I could start just about any of my blog entries with that phrase in the title, taken from Isaiah 40. There is always so much going on here at Caldwell. It’s hard to keep up with the reporting of everything. So, on just about any day, we could say to each other, “Have you not heard ….?” But Isaiah wasn’t referring to simple church comings and goings, committee meetings or prayer requests. He was really saying, “How could you forget?” As in, “How could you forget that your God will never abandon you?” On Sunday, we will take a deeper look at Isaiah’s words to Israel at a moment of their forgetfulness.
Other happenings on Sunday:
* In worship, we will incorporate some new elements in recognition that February is Black Heritage Month. We will also celebrate communon.
* Breakfast with our neighbors at Caldwell House: Prep at 7, breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
* You can bring a can or two of vegetables, a little extra change or cash and join the Caldwell youth as they fight hunger. Before worship, drop your vegetables (or other ready-to-cook soup ingredients) off in the Fellowship Hall. Come back after worship and experience the miracle of a “stone soup” lunch. Also, as you leave worship, you will have the chance to contribute any lose change or bills to the youths’ Souper Bowl of Caring fund-raising effort. Monies raised will be used to provide breakfasts for the women of Caldwell House.
* Adult Sunday School will begin a study of the Lord’s Prayer using a book by Father John Dominic Crossan: The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord’s Prayer.
* After worship, the session will meet to receive new members.
On a final note, please be aware that the church has installed a new phone system that involves some new prompts and call routing options. Don’t be surprised if the answer sounds a bit different.
I hope you can get out and enjoy some of this beautiful weather before the rains come. See you Sunday.
In Christ,
John
Stone Soup, the other Eli and more
Dear Caldwell,
As the media begs for our complete focus on this week’s Super Bowl, a couple of church-related items:
1. The New York Giants have Eli Manning but we now have Eli Kleinmann. That’s him (Elijah Richard Kleinmann) there in the photo. Mother Joan gave birth while singing gospel music (really!) . Mom and Eli are doing well and soaking up the love and attention of Eli’s grandparents, Linda and Jim Schick, who are in Richmond these days providing support. Way to go, Joan!
2. The Caldwell youth are busy getting ready for Souper Bowl Sunday to raise funds to fight hunger – and they have an offer for you. The youth will be making “Stone Soup” and invite all who would like some for lunch to bring two cans of any kind of vegetables. One can will go into the soup for Sunday; the other will be saved to make soup for lunch for Caldwell House on a Sunday in the future. Please drop off your vegetables in the kitchen off Fellowship Hall before worship. You can then return for soup and bread for lunch after worship. This youth fund-raising effort annually gathers $300 to $400 for hunger relief. So, put some extra change or cash in your pocket. If you are not staying for lunch, you will be given the opportunity to donate on the way out of worship. If you are coming to lunch, you can contribute when you come through for soup. And, if you don’t know the story of the “Stone Soup Supper,” you will hear it in worship.
Aside from the Super/Souper Bowl, the Elizabeth community met last night to hear more about a supportive living community that is being proposed for the vacant Peak Resources building that adjoins the church property. It was a good meeting that answered many questions. The Observer’s coverage is at this link: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/01/31/2976291/affordable-housing-community-pitched.html
Finally, if you have been walking with us at Caldwell and are considering making this your church home, the Session will meet immediately after worship Sunday to receive new members. We love new members! If you have any questions about that process, don’t hesitate to call me at the church office.
May God bless the close of your week.
In Christ,
John
When God Calls …
Nineveh, 8th Century BCE
Dear Caldwell,
The picture above is Nineveh, the capital of Assyria and the world’s greatest city at the turn of the 8th century BC. Pretty impressive place, huh? “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city,” God told Jonah. Instead, Jonah went the other way, at least at first. I wonder why Jonah didn’t want to go - just to see the big city? Still, we all must admit we’ve got some Jonah in us. We want to do what WE want to do, not what God tells us to do. On Sunday, we will consider what we do “when God calls” (as the spiritual goes) from the perspective of the city of Nineveh. Perhaps there is something there that can guide us as a city that hears God’s call but, sometimes at least, goes the other way.
Also, Sunday, we will celebrate God’s call to four new elders who will be ordained and installed. These elders-elect have worked hard already to study church polity and learn the role of elders in our tradition, to say nothing of the ins and outs of how the session works, the church budget and what their new committee assignments will involve. We’re blessed that God has called Ruth Curtis, Molly Griffin, Sharon Harmon, Maggie Jordan and Craig Rhodes to serve as servant-officers.
Adult Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m., preceded by Caldwell House breakfast at 8:30 (prep starts at 7 if you want to help).
We have a number of pastoral concerns to keep in prayer:
The sister of Yvette Wilson is fighting meningitis and Yvette is with her in California. Michelle Nance, daughter of Nancy, continues to improve after the episode with her heart in preparation for surgery. Rose Greenfield’s health continues to improve. Kim Bohannan, friend of Ginger Dickerson and Caldwell, is recovering from back surgery in Connecticut. Zoraida Stewart request prayers for her brother’s convicted killer and for her family’s ability to cope with the loss of her brother. Ray Owens’ daughter, Sidney Elizabeth Owens, died in a skiing accident recently. We are praying for this family in their bereavement. Elizabeth Hyland’s mother, Peggy Hyland, continues her chemotherapy.
May the Lord bless these, our sisters and brothers in Christ, as well as you and yours.
In Christ,
John