If you’re reading this, you’re part of the community!
On Thanksgiving Day in 2022, I had no idea what the coming year would bring.
As it turned out, 2023 proved to be a year of change, a year of new ideas, a new ministry, and the beginnings of an emerging faith community. The last year and a half has been a rollercoaster ride - thrilling, but sometimes a little scary and uncertain!
I began working on turning “me” into “us” even before we were officially launched on July 1, 2023. Listening sessions were first. I met many people at coffee shops, in bars, in parks, in restaurants, and online. More than 500 different individuals responded positively to my April announcement about this new venture, the launching of an inclusive and affirming United Methodist collective. From that beginning, I set out to find times and places in Catawba and Lincoln counties, to hear what you all wanted and needed from a faith community. Many of you told me stories of church hurt. Some of you had been excluded or harmed by bad theology. Some had been harmed by the disaffiliation of some churches from the UMC. Some of you had never found a church home that nurtured your faith, or one that was relevant to your lives. I went to as many of the “third places” I could find in Denver, Maiden, Newton, Lincolnton, Sherrills Ford, and online to hear your stories, your hopes, your ideas for a spiritually nourishing community.
Today I would like to thank you all for your continued support and for your participation in our worship services, study groups, Wednesday gatherings, and special events, as well as what we share with each other via social media. Some things we have tried have worked beautifully well. Others, not so much. We have set about with an idea that we will fail upward. One of the difficulties has been location. Another has been time - morning or evening, weekend or weekday? When and where and for what reason would people want to gather?
This has been a season of restoration, reconciliation, and relationship building. In the midst of our time as The Lakeshore Collective, our UMC charted a new path as a fully inclusive and affirming denomination. We have talked, worshiped together, sung hymns (in bars!), gathered for meditative coloring with sparkly gel pens, written thank you notes to our community, and prayed for each other. I am humbled that so many of you have shared a little of yourself with me. I didn’t realize when I was ordained that part of my ministry would involve so many conversations in bars and coffee shops! We have been willing to try new ways of gathering, and new ways to serve our community.
Today, on this second Thanksgiving for The Lakeshore Collective, I just want to say thank you! Thanks for coming in person to small, intimate worship services. Thanks for joining us online for worship, for discussion, for Bible studies. Thanks for showing up on Wednesdays at coffee shops and bars., and reading banned books to discuss. Thanks for coming to Hops ‘n’ Hymns. Thanks for reading my substack posts -- and for some of you, actually subscribing and even paying to subscribe to help support this work. Thanks for your encouragement, your cards, your emails, your texts, your hugs, your prayers, your presence in my life and the life of this community.
All of this experimentation, this willingness to come color with me on Wednesdays without really understanding why, for coming to the park at 8:30 in the morning, for patience as we work out how to share worship with ever-changing social media structures and technical difficulties. Thanks for a willingness to give faith one more try, even in the face of toxic Christian Nationalism that does NOT resemble the Way of the brown-skinned immigrant called Jesus. For meeting for discussions, for being willing to color, sing, and listen deeply for the needs we can meet for our neighbors near and far. Thanks to clergy and members of other churches who have opened your minds and your hearts to be a part of this beautiful connection. Thanks to those who have wandered off the street when they heard hymns being sung at a bar.
I am grateful beyond words.
And I have a Thanksgiving Day gift for you. Two, actually. First, on Sunday, Dec 1, join us at Untapped Territory after the Lincolnton Christmas parade and tree lighting. We’ll meet at 7 p.m. for Hops ‘n’ Hymns: The Christmas Edition. We will sing carols and hymns and maybe lift a glass of gratitude.
And, here’s the gift for today. Last week, my spouse took the last paragraph of my sermon, and asked A.I. to turn it into a song. He then asked A.I. to help turn the song into a video. I have been amazed to hear and see this collaboration. We really can try new things!
Here’s a link to the video. PeopleofHope w/Lyrics
Pay attention to the words. Tell me what you think. And, if you are so inclined, drop me a line about your own “gratitude list!”
I look forward to making our way through this season of hope, love, peace, and joy with all of you!
Pastor Amy
P.S. Don’t miss more info on other Advent/Christmas things to come, including 9:30 Sunday morning discussions and a second (in person) worship service at 10 beginning Dec 1* , a Christmas Sip ‘n’ Gift gathering on Dec 22 at 2 at Untapped to make some last minute little gifts, and perhaps at a Longest Night/Blue Christmas service at one or more locations in our community the week of December 16th.
*Advent Worship and Wonder Schedule
Dec 1 through Dec 22
9:00 In person & online worship
9:30 - The Heart of Christmas -
A time to share with each other:
Dec 1 - How Do We Deck our Halls, and Why?
Bring a favorite ornament, decoration, picture of a decoration, or a story about Christmas decor with you to share!Dec 8 - The Christmas Songs We Love
Come and sing with us! What are your favorite Christmas carols and hymns?Dec. 15 - What Tastes Like Christmas?
Sharing Our Holiday Favorites - Bring a covered dish to share - something that your family loves during this season!
Dec 22 - Family Traditions -
Send Pastor Amy a story about your own family’s tradition and come to share those traditions with us!
10:00 - In Person Worship Yes! You can sleep a little later and still come in person!