May 6 will forever live in our church history as "Bess in a Dress" Day.  In a fabulous ensemble, including white dress, veil, fake flower bouquet and fabulous white lacy sneakers, Bess hid out in pastor's office until it was time to precede him down the aisle during the third praise song.  The ripple of laughter and applause started at the back and flowed forward.  Here is a picture of Bess and a fake newspaper notice:

Saturday is the long-awaited work day at church.  We will gather at 9 to clean and freshen inside and out.  No matter what level of skill or interest, there will be a job for you.   Terry Kelly has been making a list and checking it twice and has a more-than-ample list of chores that need to be done by people of all skill levels.  Martha has been working hard outside getting ready for the landscaping jobs that will be done on Saturday.   There will be elbow grease, lots of laughter, and, of course, food.

The result will be our work for good stewardship - taking care of what God has given us.

Debbie K. will be preaching on Sunday.  Her topic is "Yo, God, You what me to do WHAT?!"  The message will be, as always, uplifting, and we can always count on Debbie to make us laugh and think.  During Sunday's worship, Rev. Jim will offer a prayer and a departure blessing for David.

Karen W. preached on mothers last Sunday.  A visitor told me that she is so pleased to visit a church where women play an equal role.  Sometimes, we take that for granted.

A week from Sunday is Pentecost - the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church - the birthday of the church.  We have learned that when the Spirit comes, things happen.   These happenings always stretch us because the Spirit of God never leaves us in our old places but always leads us to new and not always comfortable places.  Our common journey of faith often makes us uncomfortable but that discomfort and the enlarging of our own spirits bring us and our world to a better place.

I hope you never cease giving God praise for the many blessings we experience each day of our lives, as individuals and as a community.

Thanks to all who came for cleanup day at church last Saturday.  I've never seen the inside of the church so clean.  The carpets and windows are pristine!   The south side of the church has a new coat of paint and there are sore feet from standing on ladders.   The landscaping is taking shape and will get better and better.   There were many hands making light work, ably guided by Terry K and Martha K.  And, of course, there was food.  Someone said that one of the things we do best is eat together.   Eating, while community is being strengthened, is sacramental.

On Sunday, we had a departure blessing and a gathering after church for David E.   It's always hard to send one of our own forth to a new chapter of life.   David is strongly tied to us and will remain so, even in Georgia.  During worship, Deb K and Steve did a duet of Traveling Light.  That brought smiles and tapping feet.

On June 2, we will have another opportunity to gather as we come together for a church retreat, led by Rev. Dr. Rick Danielson.  This is an opportunity for us to strengthen our bonds and grow closer as a church family.  Please make this a priority.  You won't regret it.  We will gather from 10 to 4.  Please sign up or send me an email if you are able to come.

We have been experiencing transitions.   Linda, Billy and David have moved to other cities.   Deacon Gene is pursuing ministry options with UCC and has resigned his diaconate after good and dedicated service and will be fulfilling a seminary requirement by doing student pastoring at a UCC church from August to May.   Steve will also be doing student pastoring at a UCC church and then going to an MCC teaching church in another city for a year of MCC internship before ordination.   Thanks to both Gene and Steve for their constancy and generosity.

We are seeking another musician to take us through this transition as a church community.

Changes, changes, changes.  I don't know about you, but I don't like changes of this magnitude. I don't want people to go away.  I don't want to lose Gene and Steve.   However, experience has shown us all along the way that God will not leave us orphans.   God will provide.  We will continue to pray as if everything depends on God and will continue to work as if everything depends on us.  And we won't do it alone.  We'll continue on the path of building community and continue the work of Christ on earth.

What is a retreat anyway?  For us it will be an opportunity to stop with all the busy things we do as a church to spend a day together, praying, reflecting on scripture, playing, getting to know one another in a deeper way.   When in your busy life do you ever get a chance to look inward instead of being distracted by all the things that go on around you all the time?  That's what Saturday will be.   Each one of us is a part of the beautiful picture that Open Arms MCC is.  Saturday will be a time for us to see the picture from a different perspective.  Your presence is needed.

If you can help with food, please let Lu J or Donna J know as soon as you can.

On another note.  Tomorrow morning, I will drive to the town of Newfane to bury a man who was my patient.   He had a very troubled life.  His mother introduced him to alcohol when he was 10.  She didn't like to drink alone.   When he was 14, he became involved with an 18 year old woman who became pregnant.  He was in prison for half of his life.  In the midst of this, he found God and became an ordained Pentecostal minister and travelling preacher.  He was not able to sustain a sober life and lost himself and his children to drugs.   He never lost his love for God and never stopped believing in God's love for him.  He also was never able to conquer his addictions.  I visited him every week or so since last October.  We had an interesting pastoral relationship and often prayed and talked of the scriptures.  He died alone on Monday night.  I was honored when his sister asked me to guide them through prayers and reflections at a graveside ceremony tomorrow.  My patient was such a troubled man and such a good soul trapped in a life debased by many things.  I'm glad I knew him.

Please pray for the repose of John's soul.  And pray for all those men and women, especially in the LGBT community, whose lives have been so harmed by substance abuse.