Jody's Journal

Dear Family and Friends of the Kirk,

As I write this letter, it is Mayday (May 1st). Mayday for me means that this month will mark very important events in the lives of the members of the Kirk. Families will celebrate college graduations and for others high school graduation is close behind. We have 32 youth who will confirm their faith on May 20 after nearly a year of study and reflection. Many people will celebrate Mother’s day on May 13. For some it will be a special day where children honor their mother with gifts and meals. For others of us, we will remember mothers who are no longer with us, except in our memories. May is a month when we mark important transitions. It is a good time to recall the faithfulness of God who is with us and cares for us every step of the way. Psalm 23 speaks of it: “The Lord is my shepherd… he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul…. Even though I walk through the darkest valleys… you are with me…" I’m thinking one of the reasons we love this Psalm is that it reminds us that amidst all of the transitions, we can count on this: our God will be with us to guide us and help us no matter where the journey leads. May is a good month to give thanks to God for that presence.

We also celebrate Pentecost on May 27—the gift of the Spirit that gave birth to the church. I’ve been thinking about how the Spirit of God is present at the Kirk. Almost 29 years ago the Spirit spoke to people in this community and gave birth to this Christian congregation. Since then we’ve grown spiritually and numerically. The Spirit has led us to be a congregation where people love and care for one another, and who desire to share that love with the world. One thing that is clear in the Long Range Planning Process is that you want us to be a church that reaches out to others with the love of Christ. We do this in many ways. Sometimes it is welcoming visitors and new members. Other times it is reaching out to those who may never join our fellowship, but are hurting or hungry and need to know God has not forgotten them. We want to be strong in our mission.

This Sunday we will welcome the newest members to our church family. I sat in with them last Sunday during the Explorer’s Class. We are very blessed to have them. I hope we will be a blessing to them. I anticipate the Spirit will use them to be a blessing among and through us. Please remember to speak to them and to wear your name tags as a way of welcoming them. Remember how nice it was when you were a new member and someone spoke to you? It’s a gift of grace.

As our Long Range Planning Taskforce continues meeting and we listen to the dreams people have for the Kirk, I am excited about the future. It is clear to me that “Christ’s mission has a church” (see last’s Sunday’s sermon if you wonder what that means). Our work now is to discern what that particular mission is for us at the Kirk. Be in prayer as the taskforce shares the goal options in the weeks to come.

In faith, hope and love,

Jody