[Oe List ...] A Letter from Eileen

[Del Morrill]

Many of you have commented on how much you appreciated the letters from our
granddaughter, Kathryn, when she and her husband were working "overseas."
Here is one from the mother who "birthed" her.  She and George left their
big suburban church some time ago, and went to this inner city one in the
heart of Columbus.
Del


Sunday was even crazier than usual at the Church for All People, and that's
really saying something.   This week the choir was singing and we were also
Christmas caroling after worship.  I had to transport about 25 choir robes
down to church by 8:30 (we have no place to store them there) and do my
usual setup of all the equipment.     I won't be here Christmas weekend so I
also was transporting about a dozen Christmas eve costumes, a "fake fire"
and logs loaned by Church of the Messiah. I also had Christmas cards and
presents to deliver to various people.  This is what is known as "leaving
everything to the last minute".  I loaded up my car and drove in.

The person who helps me set up didn't arrive until I was done.  I discovered
I had left the Order of Worship at home and had to get Holly to find it and
print it out.   Then I couldn't find the music and had trouble with the
copier.  Rehearsal didn't really get going until 9:15.  I had to get all the
robes and music distributed, get everybody rehearsed, and be ready to go at
10:00.  I found out I'd forgotten the yoke things that go around the choir
robes.   Then John Edgar let me know we were also showing a video clip
before the service, and Chris Sunami had to talk with me about a skit that
was added, and then removed again.   We managed to have a good rehearsal,
but ended so late and the video started so early that we never prayed
together before we started.  By the time worship started I was pretty well
unsettled, exhausted and overwhelmed.  Bah Humbug.

Then ....joy.

Our choir got up to sing, filling the entire front of the church.  Dee
played the conga drum for the song "Come to Set Us Free" set to a Puerto
Rican folk song.  She was wearing a Santa hat, which was just plain fun.
The choir was all in their new (used) robes and looking like angels. They
sang beautifully -- imperfect but joyous.   So many people tell me how much
they love singing in the choir.  It really makes the effort worth it.  And
they love the robes (thank you Powell UMC!)

This was immediately followed by sharing joys and concerns. A tall white man
I didn't recognize stood up in the back.  He was wearing a dark stocking cap
and coat.   "I just want to say God bless this church. I'm homeless.  I come
here several times a week to get a meal.   I feel like people care here.  I
was looking at this piece of paper," (he meant the bulletin) "and it says on
it "Church for All People".   Well, I don't have any family so I feel like
you all are my family."

I felt tears come to my eyes, because this is the reason we are here.  This
is the reason we put in the effort, each in our own way, to make this place
truly a church for "all people".   Without knowing it, this man had just
stated our thesis.

Then Paul Parker stood up.  I've been meaning to write about Paul for
awhile, because is is just full of joy and song.  He is African-American --
probably in his thirties.  He wears glasses and has a big smile.   Every
week he stands up during joys and concerns and shares some song that's been
on his heart.  By his own admission, he's not much of a singer (in fact,
pretty off-pitch), but the band usually manages to figure out a key and join
in once they hear the tune.
He often sings this one:
"I am a promise, I am a possibility,
I am a promise, with a capital "P"
I am a great bundle of potentiality.
And when you're trying to hear God's voice
and you're trying to make the right choice,
I am a promise to be, anything God wants me to be."

He sang something else this Sunday and I can't even remember what, but it
was again a joyous tune about all that is possible.  As he sang, members of
the choir stood up and sang and clapped along so we kind of ended up with a
second choir performance.

After prayer time, the icing on the cake was Jonathan Meier's sermon.  He
was preaching instead of John this week.  Jonathan is a young seminary
student, slight of build, but huge of heart.  He has been fasting and
praying in the freezing cold  outside the Statehouse for 18 hours each day
to protest the election law requiring ID in order to vote.  He feels that
the requirements make it difficult for the poor to vote and impossible for
the homeless to vote, since they likely don't have ID, bank statement or
utility bill to show.  (Think about it.)  He feels God cheers to hear every
voice and that God supports a democracy that includes each person.  Anyway,
whether you agree with him or not, you have to admire his conviction and
courage.

He preached about Mary and said that he felt that Advent is really about
Mary.  About Mary's intimate relationship with God.  About her willingness
to say "Let it be" when asked to make a huge sacrifice and take a huge risk
(of being stoned to death for being pregnant outside of wedlock, among other
things).  He said "what if Mary had said "no"?"  But she said "let it be".

"Let it Be", this season.  Let joy come into our hearts.  Let us search for
an intimate relationship with God that impregnates us with the promise of
the kingdom of heaven.  Let the Kingdom come near to earth, bringing justice
and peace.

And, I would say, as hectic, flawed and insufficient as our efforts
sometimes feel at the Church for All People, I truly find the kingdom comes
near to me over and over again.  I hope you find that as well during this
Christmas season.    Christmas eve dinner at the "Inn" will be at 5:00 and
the service around the "campfire" is at 6:30.  You might try something
different this Christmas Eve, and eat with some shepherds at 895 South
Parsons Avenue.

Merry Christmas,
Love,
Eileen

P.S.:  As always, if you wish to be removed from this list, just let me
know.
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