Celebrating the future
June 23, 2024
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| Photo of the worship table, June 23, 2024. A handmade Noah's Ark sits on rainbow striped fabric waves, with handcarved animals all around and a vase of flowers behind it. It is situated between two handcrafted lighthouses which rest on light blue fabric waves. The dial telephone used to make the historic phone call to the UCC headquarters 45 years ago sits on the right hand corner of the table. A large gold-painted wooden cross hangs on the wall behind the table. Green palm plants and peace plants are in containers on either side of the table. |
On July 1, 1979 the New Ark United Church of Christ held its first worship service as a new congregation in the Chesapeake Association of the Central Atlantic Conference. Today we are celebrating our 45th anniversary.
Instead of a usual sermon, we invited one of our Associate Conference ministers, the Rev. Craig Peterson, to join me in a conversation about our church and about the future.
Here is an excerpt from my notes for that conversation.
Craig to Cynthia: What do you see as the direction of the church as it moves into the future?
- Start by reflecting on the scripture
- The gospel of Mark was written during a time of great upheaval and that mindset is reflected in this story. The disciples are fearful, anxious, feeling alone, and for good reason. They’re living through stormy, traumatic times; the future is uncertain and everything they know is about to change drastically.
- We have just come through the trauma of a global pandemic. The effects of climate change are upon us. Many of us are fearful and anxious about the upcoming election. We witness war and genocide and the very real threat of White Christian Nationalism. Even on the roads and on social media we see just how stuck we are in a similar mindset to those disciples. We’re living in our lizard brains, ready to fight or flee or freeze, sometimes unable to see our way forward.
- Jesus reminds them and us of two things. One, rest is not just important, it’s essential, especially in turbulent times, to calm the mind and heart, to step out of our lizard brains and remember our humanity. Two, he reminds them that they aren’t alone, there are other boats with them, they are a community, especially when they have faith in God and in each other.
- Being faithful and hopeful and being community that disrupts its life for others in the midst of uncertainty is a radical act. Throughout its history this church has looked to what is the next right thing to do with what we have so as to make a material difference in the life of this community and the communities in which we live. It is my hope and prayer that we will continue to do this with what we have, for as long and as faithfully as we can. Because the world needs community that is willing to commit radical acts of love and justice.
For the full conversation, click on the link above to the video of the worship service our Facebook page.
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