July Pastor's Corner

Dear People of Christ Church,

This month’s issue crept up on us suddenly, and it occurred to me that last year I don’t think we even had a Fieldstone Crier in July; it’s a testament to just how much is going on that we didn’t want to skip the whole summer. The lunch program is up and running—thanks to our collaborative with other Waltham churches, free lunches are available to any child in our city under the age of 18, no questions asked, at an additional site in the city. In addition to the McDonald site where we’ve focused much of our energies, additional volunteers are also needed at the Whittemore school from July 6 to 31 during summer school (lunch is served 12-12:30; arrive 15 minutes early and stay 15 minutes later), so let me, Mike Balulescu, or Becky Phillips DeZalia know if you’d like to volunteer. There’s a lot to do—you’ll read more about B Safe on page 1 and Waltham history days below. Sarah Staley’s piece on page 3 concludes our series of “This I Believe” essays we wrote as part of our Lenten education. It’s been wonderful to hear each other’s stories as part of that series—thanks to everyone who participated.

It’s wonderful to see all of these signs of new life. I am so blessed to be the rector of such a growing church (yes, officially rector—the bishop signed the paperwork, so we are all set!). We have accomplished so much together in the last four years. I am so grateful to each of the parish leaders that have worked so hard over these last years, too, to get us where we are—I still remember what a gift it was to begin as priest in residence with Jim Hewitt and Marcia Luce as wardens back in 2005 (and to work again with Marcia as warden with Jonathan for these last 2 years). Chuck McCullough and Suzanne Hughes have managed our finances over these years with such grace and skill, and each and every vestry or committee member and pledger has been part of our success. Of course, there is still so much to do and we are not exactly on financial high ground, but we have traveled far together, and I am thankful to each of you for it. I’ve always had in the back of my mind the hope that I would be able to stay on in a more permanent way but to have it be officially settled is a great feeling. Deeper than a feeling—it’s a great vocation that we have been called into together.

Being the church isn’t so much about feelings as it is about who we are and what we do when we leave. A church I know has written in the bulletin after the dismissal, “the worship is over; the service begins.” The word “ecclesia” —Greek for “church” —means “called out.” We aren’t just called in to be church only on Sunday morning, we are called out to be the people of God in the world every day of our lives. Being a Christian is about proclaiming and practicing the truth that Jesus is Lord—not our national leaders in politics or government, not our own desire for esteem or comfort, but Jesus—the self-giving Beloved of God who lived his life in the service of peace and unconditional love for everyone.

Thanks be to God!

Blessings,
Sara+