I feel lazy not posting, but know that I have been busy with other things. Specifically I have been working to create an identity for a new church that I am helping to birth. It’s been a really exciting time – we decided on a name on Sunday, and last night put the finishing touches on the logo. I love creating logos and creating one for a church is especially meaningful to me. As a “new” Christian I have that zeal only a newbie can have – and want to tell the world about my faith and, in particular, my church – First Congregational United Church of Christ. As such, I have thrown myself into the activities and people of the church. Tomorrow I will helping get the church ready for a very busy weekend, on Saturday I will be the liturgist at the installation of the pastor who will be leading the new church that we will be planting in Charleston, WV. Sunday I will be attending two services at church, and entertaining a friend in between so that he can participate in both services as well (he lives about an hour and a half away). It almost sounds like a job, except I am completely excited about each and every activity. Working on the name and logo, searching for the perfect words and images to convey what this church will be about was a total joy.
The UCC is an open and affirming faith that welcomes ALL people, and recognizes that everyone is on their own path to God. This is not a church that relies on “tests of faith”, it does not require following a long list of rules and regulations, and it welcomes people from all faith backgrounds. As such it is a faith that includes a lot of converts, people that grew up unchurched, people that felt that the faiths they were raised in did not live up to their needs (like me), and people that we actually rejected by the faiths they were raised in. So we wanted to come up with a name/logo that conveyed a message of safety, a message about the journey that we are all on.
Edit 11/20 – I started this post earlier – but am finishing it today. And unveiling the new church name and logo. Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ. Do you feel that? Bridges of Grace? Doesn’t that just feel good, and purposeful, and hopeful? And hope is something that seems sorely missing these days. These days where the “cultures of faith” seem more bent on creating lines and demarcations of who is in and who is out. When certain religions want to decide who is a family and who is not – and who is worthy and who is not. I belong to a faith that says ALL are welcome. Buddhist. wiccan, Catholic, brown, white, straight, gay – if you are seeking God we are here for you. Everyone is on their own path and we are here for YOU as you follow that path.
Peace be with you.
