After having dinner with several members of our church I was so surprised to hear that the layers of grief in our congregation go back long before the pandemic and the recent personal losses of family and friends. These veteran members helped this ever-learning pastor to understand the existence of pain in our church family over grief that was never processed, including being named, discussed, or honored.
Nearly 25 years ago, under the clergy and lay leadership while occupying our 18th Street location, FUMC Plano took a bold step to buy land and build big on the corner of Spring Creek and Parker. This bold step came with a bold new vision and dreams of new ministries. With the move in 2002 followed by the unexpected changes in pastoral leadership in 2012, along with the cresting and slowing growth in east Plano, it became evident that the big bold dreams of FUMC Plano were not going to be fulfilled as planned. That loss is grief unresolved.
Now we are experiencing the pandemic and its fallout along with the loss of several people in our church family. We are now feeling that grief, too.
Where is God calling us and how do we navigate new directions?
In our Lenten series entitled “Navigating Change and Grief” we will have some unique opportunities in both worship and the classroom (register here for the March 20, 27 and April 3 Sunday School Hour) to name and talk about these changes. We can discuss the sense of loss we have felt and how God is speaking to us now in the midst of that loss as we head toward the horizon of new life on Easter.
It's hard work, but it’s made easier when we name it and talk and pray about it together. It's the stuff of Lent, and I look forward to navigating the way forward with you, my church family, with God as our guide and hope.
Blessings in your Lent,
