first impressions

I went to church in Ware today for the fourth time.  The pastor stood on his head.  The 60-something balding man did a head-stand on the cement floor of the fellowship hall. 

It was his first Sunday.  Which is the only reason we were in the fellowship hall in the first place – because there was actually a coffee hour (!) to welcome him. 

I think the congregants were shocked, or at least highly amused at his antics.  But all he was doing was making friends with the 5-year-old girls who were jumping rope with a pink scarf (which was amusing in itself!)   Reminded me of Dad.  :)

It was nice to finally get to meet some of the members of the congregation, actually talk to people, introduce myself, learn some names, and be welcomed into the community as more than just a guest.  How is a guest supposed to be drawn in to a congregation if there’s no fellowship time after worship?  Thank goodness for new pastors, I guess…

Welcoming the new year

What a wonderful way to end one year and begin another – a reflective mass with 6 other people in the chapel, sharing our prayers and hopes for the coming year.  So much more meaningful and purposeful than your traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, which often seems to be just another excuse to have a party.

I can hear fireworks going off, echoing through the valley.  It would be quite a sight to see them from the edge of the Quabbin, looking out across the water…but I will enjoy imagining the beauty of it, and not think about the fact they are really imitations of exploding bombs…

Happy new year, and may this one be filled with more love, more spirit, more peace, more hope in our lives and our world.