Pastor's Note

ONE AND ALL
November 5th, 2007

I was driving south of Mansfield last week, where there are more hills than here. I came upon the most beautiful red maple tree. I wanted to stop and just admire this perfect specimen of fall color. But then as I drove on, I saw a hillside full of changing leaves – yellows, oranges, reds, browns, and some greens. That, too, was the epitome of fall foliage.
Then I wondered, which was better, the individual tree with all its perfection or the entire hillside full of contrasting and varying hues and shades.
We don’t have the composite without the individual excellence. But on the other hand, bringing together the strengths of lots of individuals becomes something more than just the sum of the many. A new work of art is born, and even the color of individual trees is magnified.
As we build church, that is, the church community, we want both the strength and splendor of each individual and the power and majesty of the composite. Church is always a coming together of the many, but each member of the many is important.
Just as today we ‘blend together’ the soil that people bring in from their own gardens, we find ourselves becoming one. That’s one more sign of the way we are called to be church.
Thanks for sharing your gifts with community on a regular basis. Don’t hesitate to let your colors shine!