Greetings from a neighborhood church near my house!
On May 3, I was just minutes from home, worshiping with Swift Creek Presbyterian Church in Moseley, Virginia. Their pastor has just begun a sabbatical, made possible due to the leadership of Swift Creek’s session. A sabbatical is a two-way endeavor, with the minister gaining time to rest, reflect, and recharge, and the congregation gaining time to hear new voices and to be more active in many ways in the day-to-day ministry of the church.
Now, about this Sunday’s worship.
On a normal Sunday, there are two worship services presented—contemporary and traditional. Several times during the year, though, the services are combined so everyone has a chance to see each other. A time to connect, or reconnect, with members who favor a different style of worship.
If I remember conversations correctly, the combined Sundays include a picnic afterwards, to continue lifting the congregation at once. This particular Sunday was Communion Sunday as well, a fitting image of being fed at the Lord’s Table, and then again at the community table.
Inside the building is a sanctuary that adapts well to either style of worship. The pictures below hopefully capture its openness with its bright and airy vibe.
| Like many of our congregations, it takes the efforts of many leaders to prepare worship: Lay leaders and readers, bulletin makers and sharers; greeters at each door; ruling elders being a part of communion; children in and away from worship. My best guess of how many people this takes would be twenty, and that would be per service! Good work, Swift Creek! Swift Creek sits on a rolling lot, with their two-story main building, a wonderful pavilion, an outdoor worship space (pictured below), a pond at the back of their property, and some pretty incredible green grass! Their sign by the road calls attention to their facility, and a nicely spacious parking lot just says, “C’mon in, we got room!” The weather this day was perfect for the events planned. It was fun to sit outside and share a meal with everyone. Of course, there was plenty of food, hot and cold dishes, and desserts! Afterwards I got to see many volunteers cleaning up the grounds following the picnic. Again, many hands are involved in the life of the church! My last task for the day was to moderate their session meeting. I enjoyed meeting the elders and witnessing their hearts for ministry in the manner in which the work of the session was undertaken. I am guessing they used a trimmed-down agenda for my benefit, but even in this “brief” session meeting I could see the unity and purpose of the leadership. I want to add that prayer was a key part of the meeting, and that one prayer was for the people of Swift Creek, following the elders sharing “joys and concerns.” And, as is so expected from my visits, here is my invitation to all reading this: If you find yourself on Woolridge Road in Moseley, Virginia, at 9 or 11 on a Sunday morning, there is a place to stop by and find the people of God being the people of God. Now, till next time,Blessings, |
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| Kerry |
