Often it seems as though love hangs onto things. Hangs onto people. Hangs onto traditions or the way things have been. And while love does persevere by carrying on and weathering the storm with us, love is more than this.
Love also releases things. Love releases people to new opportunities and places. Love allows things to move on and even away, so new openings may arise. Untethered love is also true love.
Our church has experienced a series of releasing things over the past few years. Of letting go. Of embracing change and letting new things arise.
Within the past 4 years, we have undergone several shifts in leadership and staff. We have experienced changes in our community as well. The reasons for these changes are diverse and varied. People have moved. People have needed to change jobs. People have needed to step into the next season. People have had babies. People have experienced health issues. People have felt they needed a break from church. People have felt called back to church.
In a meeting recently, I was reminded of the great strength and tenacity of our church community. Through all of these changes our Sunday services have continued, our children’s programming has remained steady, we have maintained our small groups, and we have continued to offer opportunities to gather for coffee and tea in the lobby, potlucks, hikes, and volunteering.
How have we been able to weather such big changes while still maintaining our major rhythms and the programming we offer to create connection points? It’s largely because of our community. It’s the result of our combined efforts and how we come together. It’s the result of each of us offering what we have, whether that’s a lot or a little. It’s each of us holding what we are able to hold and to carry what we can carry.
Although I am sad about some of the things that have ended and we will continue to weather changes, I am hopeful to see what is beginning. With love, Life Church Lancaster will persevere. A love that perseveres and holds on while also being an untethered love.
I’m sure we will continue to love by sometimes having to let go of people and the ways things were and sometimes by opening our arms and hearts to new things.
For all of it, I hope we can make our way to finding gratitude and peace by trusting in the presence of God with us.
Written by Mindy Wolfe