May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
On November 9, 2015, I moved to my new home in Columbus, NJ in northern Burlington County, 23.9 miles from Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Ewing. (Four days later, Pastor Whitener resigned). There were many reasons for my move, not the least of which was an attempt to down-size and save expenses as I approach retirement. I still work full-time in Mercer County so that Monday through Friday, I travel the 21.6 miles from my home to my job in Princeton Junction…and back again. As I began this next phase of my life, an inevitable trickle of personal circumstances moved towards what I knew would eventually become an emotional deluge of a decision: I would have to leave APLC and join a church that is closer to my home.
I am going to be hard-pressed to find another church like APLC. The level of talent and intelligence are exceedingly high, not to mention a church that is inspiring, challenging, loving, and just downright fun. Over the past 10 years, I have been presented with many opportunities to serve the church and as God has given me, I have given back to the church in kind. There have been so many memories of glorious spiritual moments when I felt really close to God with my APLC brothers and sisters; so many memories of enlightenment from our various teachers; so many moments of happiness at Christmas dinners and canoe trips and golf tournaments. And yet, I feel at this time in my life that God is pulling me in another direction.
This is never an easy decision and the oily specter of trepidation often slinks into the act. For various reasons, I have changed churches in my life several times before and it is always difficult to leave what is customary and comfortable. But as Lutherans, we have a distinct advantage. Have you ever been away on vacation on a Sunday morning and poked around to see if a Lutheran church was located anywhere nearby you were visiting? You felt the need to go so you ventured forth and found that (in most cases) the local church’s liturgy was familiar, and the hymns were familiar, and the teaching was familiar, and the people were familiar, no matter where you are. This is the great treasure of the Lutheran church, to know that your expression of faith can be shared and constant just as God intended it and just as He is also shared and constant.
I don’t know what I’ll find but I do know what I am looking for (The basics are important): The Word of God in the liturgy, the Gospel of Jesus Christ being preached from the pulpit, the presence of Holy Communion, smiling faces and a welcoming attitude and demeanor from a happy people who know they have been saved and can live their eternal lives with God. That would be good for starters and if I can find that, the rest of the Christian effort can generally fall into place. It may take a while or it may be the first church I stroll into; only God knows for sure but I will leave it in His hands.
So I leave APLC with tears. I say goodbye to many friends. I will especially miss the music program (You know the scene in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy tells the scarecrow that : “I think I’ll miss you most of all.”? Well, just imagine me in a lilac-checked summer dress hugging Mary Trigg). This past 10-year period of my life was one in which I may have very easily been ripped apart, but God presented me with guidance and comfort in the form of a very fine Lutheran church in Ewing, NJ. I have faith that He will provide for me in the future as well. And I will be back to visit.
“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.”
Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby.
Dear Heavenly Father, only you know our paths and our outcomes. Please protect and direct us as we move forward in each phase of our lives. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Contributed by Donald
Monday June 6, 2016
Liturgical Year C: Week 28
Liturgical Color: green
Sunday Gospel reading: cProper5
Third Sunday after Pentecost