Installation Thank Yous

Sunday, March 15, 2015 was glorious! I have to start by saying thank you to all of you for making the day so special. I feel so very blessed to have been called by God to the Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church and for the opportunity to be your 17^th Installed Pastor.

I guess that means the first “thank you” needs to go to George Bradlau for not taking “no” for an answer! Indeed, thanks do need to go to the entire Pastor Nominating Committee for their gracious care as I went through my process of discernment with extra credit to Amy Ahart who ensured that I more fully understood the cultural and intellectual opportunities available in the area as well.

With most of the PNC - minus Ed Cichone. (Photo courtesy of Candidly Kate.)

Then there was the moving, and the Building & Grounds crew’s continued care as I set up house and shop in the manse and church office. There have been eight weeks of worship and your generosity of spirit (and Kathleen’s!) as I fiddled and changed and moved things and forgot things and missed things, mostly in the bulletin but sometimes in worship as well. One baby has been born and two beloved parishioners have become part of that Great Cloud of Witnesses that watch over us all. There have been welcome lunches and coffees and potlucks and dinners and eight pounds on and back off as I’ve met many of you on a personal level, with hopefully more to come. (More gatherings that include opportunities to eat, not more pounds on.)

My friend and colleague Karl Mattison preaches the word. (Photo courtesy of Candidly Kate.)

All of that is backstory, though, to the main event: the Sunday morning worship service, followed by that afternoon’s Installation worship service and the celebration afterward. Anyone who was there with me knows exactly how special it was. A gorgeous setting in the historic sanctuary with an exquisite art installation by Katherine Herrman, evoking both the starkness of Lent and resurrection hope with red roses interspersed among the thorns. Beautiful music by the Sonshine Singers in the morning and the Old Greenwich Church Choir at both services. Inspiring preaching by my friend and colleague Karl Mattison, who shared about the doubting Thomases of today, who are more apathetic or disinterested than doubtful, and how we might develop more faithful lives and be harbingers of the good news for those who don’t even know that there is good news out there. There was liturgical dancing of the spoken word Psalm 100 by my daughter Grace and my friend Pam.

Grace Segers and Pam Jusino dance the spoken word. (Photo courtesy of Candidly Kate.)

Then there was the liturgical dance “I Need You to Survive,” ministered by Grace, and Pam, and a group of intrepid girls and women from Old Greenwich, willing to step out in faith and do something entirely new without any real idea of what that was. I give thanks for Deb Calhoun, Roxanne Campello, Grace Hill, Kristin Jiorle, Sharon Jiorle and Lisa Kolterjahn (who faithfully attended rehearsals even though illness kept her from participating on the actual day). I know that the congregation really had no idea what to expect – nor, to be honest, did most of the dancers – yet once invited into the dance, they connected with one another on a deeply moving level. This willingness to engage with each other is the hallmark of what it is to be in community with one another. It is also, I believe, what makes Old Greenwich so special.

Over and over again, people have told me that the reason they chose to stay at OGPC after visiting is because of the warmth of the congregation. Because they felt at home pretty much as soon as they walked in the door. Being “home” means that we belong no matter what. That despite our faults, our brokenness, our bad hair days, our whatever, we are loved and supported and needed. Ultimately, this is the good news of Jesus Christ: that we are forgiven our sins and loved beyond all measure. This is the good news that we live out in community with one another when we are truly being the church. I am honored and blessed to be called to a congregation that is really trying its best to fulfill Jesus’ command to love God and love neighbor. It is my prayer that we will continue to grow together in faith, in love, in community, and in commitment to sharing this good new with all we know and with all we meet.