STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS - A WELCOME LETTER FROM LIZ

Have you ever found yourself running as fast as you can, when suddenly there you are, at a crossroads, wondering whether to go left, right, or straight ahead? If you are tired enough, you think about turning around and going back. At least you know how far it is in that direction!

Here we are at Second Church, standing at the crossroads. Honestly, you all have been at other intersections before, and now here we are again--a different intersection, but with the same feeling of confusion, doubt, anxiety, maybe even terror, because we are uncertain which way is best. Luckily, we have done some good training for this race--we have been getting outside resources from crossroads, using the UCC denominational resources to guide us, listening to our clergy and staff, developing excellent lay leadership, singing at our spiritual foundation, worshiping with honesty and integrity and a prophetic voice. Like weight training and sprints, these foundational exercises have helped Second Church to make good choices in the past, and we are headed for good choices in our future.

First good choice?  You picked me as your bridge pastor!  I'm witty, and fun, and amazingly humble, as you can see. (Oh wait, did I say that out loud?) I live in Berlin, MA and have served as a bridge pastor once before, worked with a tiny church in Worcester, created a new church start outside in Worcester, MA, and teach courses in evangelism, mission, and small church vitality. I'm ordained with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), went to Episcopal Divinity School, and have standing in, and passion for, the United Church of Christ.

Seriously, though, I am so happy to be at a church with so much that is going right. You are clearly a group that is dedicated to vitality, sustainability, care for one another, and especially, to the gospel. As a youth I loved the hymn "They will know we are Christians by our Love". That is the Second Church that I see.

More concretely I see that the Christian Education committee is vetting excellent candidates in hopes of having someone here to work with Youth, Sunday School, and to create an even better program of Christian Formation, possibly starting right after Mark Seifried, our Interim Minister, arrives in March. And even while they juggle the hiring process, they are making sure our youth groups, Sunday School, and confirmation classes continue on their regular schedule.

The Deacons take seriously their role to care for the congregation and have authorized the continuation of a lay working group to coordinate visitation, and have started an informal check-in as to who might be missing on Sundays. Attendance may fall during an interim time--and especially in winter (if we ever get one) so we want to stay in contact with and support one another. If there is someone you have missed seeing, reach out to them! If you are not comfortable doing that, enlist the help of a fellow member, a Deacon or a Moderator. We are walking this road together, or faith is built by our connections to each other.

Crossroads work continues; the committee hopes to meet in the next few weeks to clarify how we will engage in Mission Redefinition, with a focus in three areas: Mission, Worship, and Communication. This work will continue with your Interim Mark Seifried, and will be essential to the way you describe what you want in a new minister.

And that's just the start! The work you have done already has created a useful map of the territory, so we aren't really at a corner where we know nothing about the roads ahead. We have good choices, we've trained well, and we have a God that guides us in this work. "We've come this far by faith" and the journey will continue to be one of faith.

(To reach Pastor Liz you can email pastorlizM@gmail.com, text or call 508-450-0431, or message her on facebook at Elizabeth Magill. You can do this anytime but do have patience for a slow response outside of Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Please do not call before 10am unless it is an emergency.)
-Liz
(The Rev.) Elizabeth M. Magill
www.ecclesiaministriesmission.org
www.mosaic-commons.org
508-450-0431