July 4, 2021 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - Shake the Dust Off of Your Feet, Don't Look Back

This Sunday Creator celebrated our first hybrid worship. There were 24 in person participants and another 12 were zoom participants. As Pastor Janell addressed all the participants, everyone was excited by the new endeavor. There were no obvious false steps or mistakes in what was planned that needed to be corrected before the next service.

The Reopening Task Force Team involved in planning the details of this worship decided this would be a Service of the Word. The Gospel was Mark 6:1-13. This particular lesson today was special and spoke to what we were experiencing. There was a feeling we were shaking the dust off our feet of an old ministry and moving towards something new. 

Pastor Janell preached about people not recognizing the change in others like the residents of Nazareth did not recognize how Jesus had changed since he was last there. It prompted questions that seemed to want to be answered. Do we recognize the changes that have happened in this congregation since our last in person worship? Are there differences that can help us in our mission as a church?

A fellow congregation member read a book recently where she pointed out the author used an analogy for a church. Congregational life is like being down on a dance floor where everyone is careening about, disoriented and crashing into each other. She asks if the same thing happening at Creator… beyond our weekly worship services, Council and Transition Team, there is the 35th Anniversary initiative, the Madres, SE Youth collective, Reckoning with Racism, IMIrJ, SOS, Meals for Veterans Village, and ongoing pandemic concerns… the list goes on. There is a lot happening but is there a cohesive “soul” or “divine spark” that is the core of our existence as a congregation? Should this be a congregational concern?

We are living in a pandemic puzzle. Many members think that in person worship is not currently safe, even with state restrictions being lifted, because not everyone can be or wants to be vaccinated. Many are vaccinated and feeling people should be able to make their own, informed decisions. With this being foremost on people's mind it is hard to reach agreement or even agree to disagree. Everyone is convinced they know how their congregation should be approaching this quandary. I find myself praying for a more open heart to all of this.    

These debates and arguments, as members try to understand and convince each other the correct course of action for the congregation, seem very unique and important to this moment. Creator's first Hybrid service was a success because of the effort of so many people in the congregation and I can't help but ponder that this might portend. 

There is something dynamic that is changing Creator's identity and I am looking forward to living into the future of that identity.