Dear Caldwell,
This week witnessed two reminders of our freedom as Americans. The first, of course, was the Fourth of July. I hope you had a good one. The second, which is ongoing through Saturday, is our denomination’s General Assembly, which reminds us that we have freedom of religion. In the PCUSA, the General Assembly is democracy in action as issues are voted up and down “by the people, of the people, for the people” but the people in its case are the people of God. The ones doing the debating and voting this week bring both their convictions about various issues as well as their confessions that they do not know it all and stand in need of God’s grace. They conduct business that shapes life in Presbyterian churches nationwide and, when all is said and done, they ask God’s Spirit to descend upon all who are affected.
Just a few minutes ago, the assembly decided perhaps the most visible and potentially divisive issue on the agenda – whether to propose a change in the church’s definition of marriage from being between and man and a woman to being between “two people.” The proposed change was voted down by a narrow margin of 52% against and 48% for. Now we as a denomination face the thorny question of how people of differing views on this and other key theological and Biblical questions will go forward together. In the meantime in Pittsburgh, much remains for the assembly to do before it adjourns tomorrow. I ask for your prayers that God’s healing and guiding Spirit dwell palpably in the chamber as the meeting moves toward its conclusion.
Here at Caldwell, on Sunday we will welcome back our innaugural domestic mission team that traveled this week to do urban ministry in Atlanta. Tianna Butler, our Davidson College intern and member of the team, will present a report with pictures of the trip in Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. I’m looking forward to seeing what the team leared (and how it withstood 100-degree days). Caldwell House breakfast is at 8:30 and devotions with the women at 9:00 a.m.
In worship, we will consider Paul’s message to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) that God’s grace is all-sufficient for us, whatever we are facing, whatever thorns in the flesh bring us pain. It’s a timely word to us as a denomination and as individual children of God. We will also welcome our newest members.
I am pleased to report that Jimmy Todd is out of the hospital and recovering from an infection.
And one reminder – Caldwell young adults (of various ages and tenures with us) will gather for lunch and conversation after worship July 15 at Kickstand. RSVP to me, please at Pastor@caldwellpresby.org.
See you Sunday and, in the meantime, may the Lord bless you and keep you.
In Christ,
John