Grace notes and possibilities

A companion to our year of displacement and disarray has been a series of conversations and reflections on the collateral blessings that have emerged through this tumultuous experience. Early on we described these in small group gatherings as “grace notes and possibilities.” One tangible expression of creative promise emerging from the Covid experience was Come and See, an Advent/Christmas series of online worship settings that has reemerged this spring. Come and See will gather outdoors on Rowe Plaza on Sundays at 9 a.m. beginning in June for a half-hour services of worship.

Sue Hall has led the Administrative Council in exploring other such fresh expressions of programming and ministry in different facets of our life together. Among the relevant questions in this process: Who are we as a ministry or program group? And what is God calling us to do in this new season? On Saturday various groups will share their ideas and in some cases specific plans and newly initiated practices as these have emerged over the last year, or even the last few weeks.

That gathering is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday in a Zoom format—and you are invited! Whether you have been a part of these planning-and-proposing conversations or not, you are welcome to join the Council as ideas and proposals are shared.

The psalmist speaks of traveling through the valley of Baca, literally “the valley of weeping,” and discovering that it becomes a “place of streams” (Psalm 84:6). Did the tears from weeping create the streams? Perhaps. Even so, the desert has become a garden habitat. We have known such transformative power in the Covid year, God’s way of giving us beauty in place of ashes, the oil of joy for that of mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

Come and celebrate these divinely given gifts, these grace notes and possibilities for the emerging season of our life together at Laurel Heights. I hope to see you there!

Grace and peace.
Paul