WHY? It is a question that younger children often wear out. Our classic adult answer is, “Because!” In church language it’s expanded to “Because we’ve always done it that way.” In its most positive form, continuing old ways helps us keep the familiar and protects long-practiced and meaningful traditions.
Sometimes we forget the why behind our traditions. I would challenge us as we go through times of change and new things, to rethink why we have these great traditions.
A great example of tradition is the singing of the Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father and to the Son …). When we were looking at worship last year, Pastor Gene Hamilton reminded us that this is sung as an act of praise connecting the Old Testament reading to the New Testament reading. We don’t often remember this, until I take it out of the service. This little chorus is such a vital part of our worship service that it brings the most emotional response when we don’t sing it. The message I hear in this is, “change what you must, but don’t remove the piece that binds the old church with the new and changing church.” Gene also gave us another wonderful time of connection on All Saints Sunday as he prayed in remembrance, the names of so many people who have been important in the life of our congregation and now rest from their labors. They are the ones from whom the traditions of our church have been passed on.
I want to share some “new” things happening in our congregation while challenging us to never forget that they emerge from our roots, built and nourished upon the foundation of our past.
1) We have many new leaders in our congregation. Don’t forget the wisdom of those who served before you and are enlightened by their experience of wrestling with the same problems you will face in the future.
2) In the spring we plan to rebuild our bell tower and spire. May we not forget the Ladies of the Church who began this project 90 years ago.
3) On February 15 we will begin the Natural Church Development program. It is a continuation of evaluating our ministries and planning to strengthen them. It goes back at least 18 years to when Bonnie Merck was pastor.
4) Finally a few women in our church have revived the old fashioned idea of getting together to knit and make crafts. They call themselves the Crafty Ladies. This group has also begun making prayer shawls for people who need to be covered with our prayers. I recently was reminded that the use of prayer shawls was an ancient tradition for Jesus and has recently regained its power in our lives today.
Yes, there is reason behind our madness. May we seek that reason in the traditions of our past and the plans for our future. May we continue to ask ‘why’ as we go forward.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dave Repenning
