Susan comes to WCUC with her adult daughter, Meghan, who is part of our Sunday Fellowship group. “I was looking for a community to share my spirituality with, and after going to service with Meg once I felt I wanted to learn more about WCUC,” says the longtime Concord resident. “I felt welcomed from the beginning by the congregation. The sermons were meaningful and the music was mesmerizing – it was a sure win/win for me.”

Last year, they attended a Christmas Eve service at WCUC and were so pleased that Meghan seemed to feel right at home–so much so that she hummed the Christmas carols afterwards!

Susan, an interior decorator and color consultant, also appreciates that Hannah brings the environment into the service, handing out bulbs for planting during Lent and focusing on “God’s Green Earth” in Vacation Bible School. “Nature is part of who we are,” she says.

Imagine the last really marvelous meal that you ate. Can you think of one? What was the occasion? Where were you? Who were you with? What did you eat? How did it taste? And what was so special about that meal?

At least once a month, we eat together at church during the worship service. Admittedly, these communion “meals” rarely include spectacular food, and the portions are embarrassingly small. So why do we eat during church at all? What kind of strange snack is this, compared to the much more delicious and bountiful meals we eat elsewhere?

At church, we eat to remember. We remember Jesus, gathering with his friends and beloved disciples, on the eve of his death. We remember what he did, and what he said, as he tried to explain to this beloved group that although he was leaving them, he would always be present when they ate together in his name.

At church, we eat to imagine the future that God invites us to help bring about. We come together, people of all classes and nations and languages, gathering around one table. We begin to resemble the realm of God where all people are united, without injustice or suffering. We teach ourselves about God’s dream of unity and fuel ourselves for the work we must do to get there.

The food may be unremarkable. The helpings may be tiny. But when we eat at church, it’s a feast. It’s a grand occasion, gathering in the name of Jesus. We have an incredible host, and there’s an expansive guest list. As we eat and drink, we are connected: to long ago, and yet to come; to far away, and right here; to Jesus, and all of God’s creation.  Whenever we eat this feast, may we be filled and satisfied.

As we welcomed back our preschoolers to Sunday School this September, we began with a four-part series on the Season of Creation. When we asked the children, “Does God Play?,” we got head shakes and a couple of tentative nods, but the preschoolers had a hard time picturing God frolicking, exploring, and experimenting with His vast creation. Yet this is exactly how God is described in our series of Psalms, and our youngest children are the greatest teachers of this lesson.

Creation’s wisdom is alive in our children. We can try and see through their eyes and be willing to hear, taste, smell, and touch the treasures of God’s Earth. Young children are so much better than we at living in the wildness and freedom of creation, and we can see through their profound curiosity, wonder, and joyful spirit that God does, indeed, play.

While exploring creation in our own backyard, our preschoolers reenacted God’s joyous creativity. Their wisdom as they worked: “Trees need leaves.” “The dogs are with the mountain goats on the mountain.” “Birds are chirping.“ “Some flowers smell like bees.” “This is a farm.” “I can slip and slide on ice. I jump from snow to ice.” (from wiggle walk to the concrete circle) “Bees are on the flowers!” “Forest, river, tallest mountain …” “The elephants are eating the coconuts (flannel-graph desert scene).”  “I found a pine cone!”

As soon as the word spread, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.   2 Chronicles 31:5

This year’s Congregational Giving letter has a chart with numbers on it.  This chart shows us what different percentages of various annual gross incomes amount to (you can find a similar one here).  Most of us can calculate percentages of our income easily. Why include a chart? It seems a bit crass. Many churches, knowing how complex monetary decisions are, never mention numbers. We know there’s no one answer for everybody, so we don’t suggest any answers at all.

If we omit dollars and percentages from our conversation, though, we pretend our faith giving is separate from the rest of our finances. Almost everyone else makes very specific requests for our money. We receive bills, non-profit soliciatations, and loads of advertisements with required or requested payment amounts. How does the church fit into that picture?

One suggestion from our tradition is that we set aside a tithe (10%) of our income for others. Some Christians give all of that money to their church, with the understanding that the church will serve those beyond its membership. Other Christians give 5% of their income to the church and 5% to other causes. But many people find any form of tithe difficult, either because it would cause financial hardship or because it would require a radical reorientation of thinking and budgeting. As a result, Christian communities increasingly encourage their members to focus on “percentage giving.”  Simply learning what percentage of our income we give away, and praying about what we feel called to give, is a powerful exercise.

Do you know what percentage of your income you give? Do you feel moved to change that percentage over time? What portion of those gifts do you feel called to give to the church? No one answer is right for everyone, but I hope this season will be rich in reflection for you.

It’s hard to miss the fact that church is changing all over the world, as well as here at home.  Last year, several folks come together to consider the insights and resources offered by the “Emerging Church” movement.  This September, our Associate Conference Minister Wendy Vander Hart came to visit us to talk about the church’s “New Normal” and encourage us to be clear about what we are called to do and be.  Last week, Constance sent me another perspective written by her brother, a UCC pastor.  He wonders if we need to compost the church to renew our vitality.  Read more here.  What do you think?

What was it that first drew you to Jesus, to Church, to Christian traditions?  What has kept you engaged or drawn you back?  Here a bishop and professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School movingly describes his abiding love affair with the bible.

Linda was one of the Roddy Prize winners at the Concord Art Association show this season.  Congratulations! Read more, and visit the Concord Art Association across town to see all of the pieces through October 13th.  Here is a miniature of her wonderfully detailed photograph, titled “Waiting.”

This past Sunday, the sanctuary filled with so much energy and joy as we gathered in larger numbers for Covenanting Sunday.  Old friends and new visitors, young and not-so-young joined in worshiping God.  We came together to reaffirm our intention to build a house where love can dwell.  It sounded kind of like this… well, without the brass! Welcome, and welcome back, everyone.  Thanks be to God.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB551gaPjkM#t=155]

We have the great privilege of welcoming John Bell, internationally acclaimed preacher, teacher, songwriter, and musician from the Iona Community in Scotland to WCUC on October 12th and 13th.  On Saturday, we’ll gather at 7pm for an interactive workshop for all ages, “Singing with the Global Church.”  On Sunday morning, John will offer a sermon during worship.

Please register with the office if you would like to attend the Saturday workshop, to save your spot.  Registration is free; Donations will be requested at the door.  978-369-6309 or office@westconcordunionchurch.org.

Don’t miss it!  And spread the word if you can — here’s our poster.

How does having children in our midst change our spiritual lives?  Young people influence all of us, parents or not, in all kinds of ways.  Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg reflects in the New York Times about how praying with and praying around children has impacted her.

How do children teach you about God? How does their presence at WCUC matter to you?