Dear Edwards Church Community,
Last month I hinted that as we are resurrected from our “pandemic tomb,” we may be asked to consider being bolder – not careless, but bolder – with our institutional wealth. I realize some may wince at me calling the church wealthy because we have such a large investment account. However, I am quite sure there are very few churches in New England, especially away from big cities, with investment assets of $8.5 to $9.0 million. It qualifies as wealth.
Institutional wealth and individual wealth are different. I have no idea and no business knowing what anyone in our church has in the bank or earns from their work, retirement savings or other assets (if you are lucky enough to have them). As your pastor, however, I am keenly interested in how we as a Christian community, a local body of Christ, incarnate the values we claim. The much discussed decline of mainline Christian churches is often attributed by those who study that decline to a disconnect, perceived most clearly by those who see the church only from the outside, between “talk and 
walk.” We are well positioned to refute claims of tepid Christianity.
You have all heard the old saying about money and manure, i.e., they don’t do any good unless you spread them around. That is not an argument for being undisciplined. It is an argument to be even better stewards by sharing deliberately.
Years ago the prominent 
evangelical writer Jim Wallis went through his Bible and cut out all the passages having to do with poverty, hunger, and sharing. He held up his Swiss cheese Bible to show wealthy Christians how much they were neglecting the Biblical lessons if they neglected to share in meaningful ways.
Several years ago, we decided as a church to give $50,000 to the Friends of the Hampshire County Homeless for transitional housing for young adults, which has been a wonderful success. At an April 18th meeting of the Outreach Grants Ministry Team, there was a spirited discussion about supporting the proposed Resilience Hub (for which the City recently obtained an option on the Roundhouse Building). This is very tentative at this point, but do not be shocked if a proposal emerges later this spring seeking congregational approval for a substantial gift to that cause. We will not always be in a position to be so generous, but now we are.
Last month I also wrote about the abatement project to remove old floor tiles that contained asbestos. They were safely removed and new tiles will be installed soon in the sanctuary, administrative office, first floor hallway, and downstairs classrooms. We expect that to be completed in May. Once we reopen, you will notice the renewal.
The process of re-opening is proceeding. Khalil, Sabra, Deb and I are in the office pretty regularly and have been for many months. David comes in to record music for Sundays. We have ongoing Buildings and Grounds activity all the time. MANNA is using the facility on occasion, and our Cathedral in the Night crew uses the kitchen every other month.
We are now planning and taking other steps to prepare for live streaming from the sanctuary as soon as we can after Memorial Day. Once Deb, David, the tech crew (which may be more than Cynthia and Greg by then), and has developed a system for coordinating the increased amount of technology involved, and once all the other support systems are ready, we will have our first “hybrid” worship service.
Here are some highlights, taken from a still in draft form reopening plan. They indicate what you can expect when you come to church for a combined in person and live streamed service (a “hybrid service”):
– Attendance in person will require pre-registration with the office.
– Registrants will be provided with a copy of the Covid Pre-Check Form (see page 11 of this Spire). Simply by attending on Sunday you confirm (a) that you have no answers that would require you not to come and (b) you will inform the church if you later develop COVID-19 symptoms.
– Face masks will be required to enter the building and must be worn at all times.
– There will be assigned seats for your household. You will need to maintain physical distance from all others not in your household, even from a friend you know is vaccinated. It is a system of mutual protection for groups when indoors.
– Even though we strive to follow public health guidance and provide a safe environment, we cannot say there will be no risk from coming out to a gathering of people in public. Think of this like going to the supermarket or drug store (only we have been closed for a year).
This whole process is often frustrating, confusing, and at times downright tiresome. And we endure it because we care for and about each other.
It is as if our whole society is gradually wading back into deeper and deeper water, for a recreational swim, after being terrified by a shark sighting. The sharks are real. We have a form of “immunity,” a protective net called vaccines, we are told will protect us well against almost all known species of the sharks. But there are occasional holes in the net. And new sharks keep evolving. So we will be as vigilant as the public health “life guards” tell us we should be until they blow the “all clear” signal for deep water swimming.
In faith, with hope, for love,
Michael
From the Minister of Faith Formation
Dear Beloved of God,
“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” ― Teresa of Avila (attributed)
We are about half way through the fifty-day season of Eastertide. During the first forty days the lectionary texts in the Gospels reveal the resurrection appearances of Jesus to the Apostles followed by the ten days between Jesus’ Ascension and the Pentecost event in Acts, Chapters 1 and 2.
Luke’s account of two among Jesus’ followers, Cleopas and his companion journeying from Jerusalem along the Road to Emmaus follow the accounts of the resurrection and empty tomb.
On this road trip to and from Jerusalem and the revelation of the Risen One in the sharing of a meal, Cleopas and his companion came to understand and recognize what proclaiming, serving and witnessing in Jesus’ name would be about. Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of Jesus and the other women with them, the two had to put away their hopes and expectations of Jesus in response to Jesus’ expectations of his followers.
Vows affirmed during the Sacrament of Baptism and our present Vision Statement (adopted, June 2015) continue to offer us guidance – and impetus – as we seek to be faithful disciples along the Emmaus Road we find ourselves traveling. Fortunately, knowing the road is long we choose to walk together.
Amy Jill Levine, Hebrew scholar, co-editor of The Jewish Annotated New Testament, and Smith College graduate, notes on Luke 24:30-31 as it pertains to the opening of eyes: “revelation is connected with the breaking of bread in a fellowship meal; faith comes through revelation not Bible study, logic, or even a vision.” Whether we agree with her comment or not, it invites wonderful conversation and wondering. How do we as a faith community and individuals serve as revelatory disciples? What practices do we engage in that open our eyes to the Christ in our midst or a new way to love and serve God, each other and neighbor across multiple generations and cultures? What practices do we engage in to listen for God’s still speaking voice as we long to find the holy in ourselves and others? How might we continue or in a new way offer ourselves as instruments of love and justice? The Thriving Congregation Team (Sarah Briggs, Sheri Cheung, Melissa Mattison, Karen Pohlman, Jim Stokes-Buckles, Michael McSherry and Deb Moore) has begun to explore ways to invite conversation about what it means to be a thriving congregation gathering at the crossroads of ancient faith and contemporary culture. Stay tuned!
With prayers for open hearts, eyes, ears, and minds as we continue the journey of faithful discipleship.
Blessings,
Deb
To read the full SPIRE click here.