No place like home

Good Morning All!

As I look through the Channels from the Sunday edition of the N & O, I see that The Wizard of Oz will be shown sometime this weekend. As the holiday season approaches, there will be more and more opportunities to view this classic film. I am reminded of the memorable scene where Dorothy clicks the heels of her red sparkly shoes three times and says, “There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home; there’s no place like home!”

While it isn’t necessarily one of the holiday films I would choose for this time of year, I realize that the competing networks are about to unleash all sorts of classic films throughout the next 6-8 weeks. My guess is, the classics attract a lot of viewers mostly due to nostalgia, the longing for the familiar things that delight us and conjure up wonderful memories of childhood and past holiday celebrations and gatherings.

Recently I have had the opportunity to be the guest in 2 different churches; one at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church during the ecumenical pulpit exchange and just last Sunday at Wilson ’s Mills Christian Church (DoC) where I preached for their stewardship ministry’s Consecration Sunday. Rev. Lea Slaton has been the minister there for 2 years, after leaving a year of being mentored in ministry here at Covenant. It was wonderful to observe Lea in this position and to experience the love and support she receives there.

When I returned to the church this past Tuesday, I stood in the sanctuary, minus the red sparkly shoes, clicked my heels 3 times and repeated Dorothy’s mantra, “There’s no place like home!” I offered a prayer of thanks for all of you, the members, guests and countless others who love & support Covenant. Truly, there is no place like Covenant Christian Church. The renewed energy, the sharing of time, talents & gifts by so many; the increased desire to grow spiritually as we move deeper and deeper into our relationship with God; growing in our understanding of what it means to connect our lives with the life and teachings of Jesus; to learn more about how to share our faith…Wow! This really is a wonderful place to be. No wonder I miss it when I am not here! :)

This Sunday, we each have an opportunity to return to Covenant as together we celebrate 21 years as a dynamic faith community. Maybe the return flight to Covenant is a short one since you were here just last Sunday or last night or will be here tonight for Choir rehearsal…or perhaps the demands of your Fall schedule have kept you from regularly hanging out with your church family and the flight is more like cross-country… maybe because of family dynamics, the birth of children or grandchildren; ill health or recovery from surgery; the death of a loved one; your search for employment; sports commitments or just plain fun…Your absence has been duly noted!

Last night in The Way of Transforming Discipleship class, we focused on knowing who we are as beloved children of God. Beloved…deeply loved by God; dear to God’s own heart. Many of us struggle with truly believing that we are beloved by God, and the way we discover and grow in understanding how beloved we are, is to come home to God…to return to God…knowing and trusting that God is there waiting to welcome us.

My hope and prayer is that your absence has made your own heart grow fonder and that your home-longing, your desire to reconnect or deepen your relationship with God, will lead to your home-coming to God as you worship with your church family. God and a whole host of others are waiting to welcome YOU. Let’s Share the Feast together as we worship, celebrate and strengthen our church family ties.
Longing to see you Sunday…Blessings, Joanne