A Year-End Update

Each year we are reminded how much there is to be grateful for. Each person in the church community is a big part of what we are thankful for as we reflect, through tax documents and timehops, on this past year (2021). God has been working in and through your lives individually and through us, as Kaleo, together corporately… but you may not remember everything; so, let us help remind you!

We started the year with hesitant returns to in-person gatherings, hosting Room In The Inn guests weekly, and significant sermons about our church core values which culminated in our first-ever Sunday morning Family Meeting. This was an energizing time as we emerged from the heavy hand of loss in the year 2020 and it helped us reflect on our past as we considered our enduring values and our future together.

Spring brought about a beautiful community-wide Easter service and meal in the Woodycrest Community Garden as well as a graduation party and the departure of many of our beloved college students. During this time, we were also working hard facilitating creek-bed cleanups in both Raymond Heights and Old Glenrose. At that time, we were thinking through our contribution and lasting agreement with Woodbine UMC and our ongoing presence in that building.

In June, we rested, sabbathed from Sunday Holiday services. Meanwhile, we found joy and connection through volleyball nights, watermelon, slip-n-slides, and all the joys of summer. Come to find out, we needed that rest and pick-me-up to carry us through July’s difficult news; our having to leave Woodbine UMC.

In her book, “How To Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going” Susan Beaumont talks about how when we look back on the “good times”, the times we remember with the sweet nostalgia of distance, we can actually see the seed of the current hard times we are experiencing already being formed. She also suggests that when we look back on the times we might label the “hardest times” we see the seeds of future seasons of joy in the midst of them, like they were being birthed in the midst of all that pain.

We have found this reflection helpful in the year 2021. Where I have looked back to see losses lurking around each celebratory corner and where I have seen glimmers of hope break momentarily through behind their outer clothing of dark rain clouds. This year, as we have packed up our bags once again to take the tabernacle to the next place, we have found hope and joy in a future where God is leading. Our minds, that might haven’t otherwise been opened to the Coleman Community Center or making a move in the midst of comfort, were forced to look deep at our values and church needs (something packing your bags really inspires). This community-space has become the home-front as we have dreamed about Life-Impact groups, as the children’s learning in Godly Play has blossomed, and as so many of you have faced difficulties and hardships.

This year, we became for each other the Body of Christ, facilitated partially through the loss of things we held dear. As we conceived all the sadness life had to offer, we lived out Ecclesiastes’ complaints while drawing on her wisdom. We saw all the oppression, all the toil, all the envy, and all the meaninglessness under the sun, but concluded, that, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (4:12).” So instead of being alone, we cooked meals for each other, sent flowers and cards, watched children, sent messages of condolences and encouragement, forgave and confessed sin, lost and gained faith, and reminded each other of the identity of who we truly are, despite our losses (perhaps even despite our gains). We stayed present where we could, we said “goodbye” where we had to, and we searched our souls (a LOT) about which path was needed. In the end, we believe nothing was wasted.

Speaking of waste, in early Fall we lived beautifully into the season of creation as we began our time at Coleman. This metaphor isn’t lost on us. How we both focused on our role in stewarding God’s creation while God re-created us as a church in this new space and after some significant losses. The church community stepped up; you did, took ownership and the necessary roles of service seriously. They volunteered to sing, to storytell, to stay overnight, to setup, to sermonize, and to serve those in need. They volunteered to bring their trash to church, to repair broken goods, and to reexamine their role in stewarding our Earthy home.

The church community did all of this, plus more… they showed up for bible study, created music, art, and experiences that fed your community’s faith; and many shared their financial resources, practicing both faith in God and release of control over their corner of the world, choosing rather to trust their brothers and sisters to also steward these things well.

That stewardship is not unnoticed by us or by God. Many gave for the first time regularly this year. You made it a practice and grew in the values of presence, embodiment, mutuality, and hospitality as you shared the common load. Many gave generously out of your lack or out of abundance (sometimes the only difference is our perspective after all!). Many gave the dollars they could, with love and hope that it would grow. All this together has meant beautiful things, not just the continuation of Holiday services, but also more food for unhoused neighbors, more toys to inspire the spirituality of the children, more care packages and cookies for the isolated, more trees planted on Earth, more emergency supplies for the victims of floods, fires, and plagues.

Finally, these resources helped us signify and honor some of the losses and gains. We honored Ron Foudray’s life with a tree planting service in the garden he was instrumental in helping us start, and we celebrated the ordination of Reverend Chelsie Reed, whose ministry calling our church community was instrumental in cultivating.

As the year came to a close, we entered once again into this Christian season of waiting called Advent. How long, O Lord, until all is made right? We lament, “How long until you come again?” It is beautifully ironic that 2022 and every new year begins with Christ’s new birth, a new star in the night sky, and a new opportunity to be the cord that is not easily broken, the Body of Christ in and for the world.

There is, after all, so much to be grateful for!