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This week I went through a box of pictures and papers that had been in storage for a few years. The goal was to get rid of things that were just sitting in a box. But the box held more than just pictures and papers, it held memories. There were some hysterical pictures from my friend’s wedding weekend 20 years ago. And others from the church I served outside Dallas TX when I was working on my Sacred Music degree. There were even some from my childhood. But the most precious memory was dated June 3rd 1990.
At the bottom of the box, I found my confirmation certificate, signed by my mother when she was the pastor at Saco UMC in Saco, Maine. I smiled as I opened the certificate and remembered the building and the people in Saco. I felt as if I was 14 again and I felt a sense of belonging.
I am part of the church, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We are a family. We don’t always agree. We are human and we make mistakes. But we know that we belong in the family.
During a pandemic, we might find ourselves lonely and disconnected, but we are still part of one family. This week I challenge you to reach out to someone from church that you haven’t seen in a while. Ask how they are doing, maybe get together for a cup of coffee. Take time to care for each other. Through baptism and confirmation we become part of God’s family. We are the church, so let’s be the church.