The Color Purple

There’s a scene in Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, where the characters Celie and Shug are walking through a field replete with purple flowers talking about God. They’re talking about how God loves admiration. How God loves it when we sit up and take notice of something wondrous in the world. That’s why things are made so beautiful: to get our attention. Shug says to Celie something like: I think it tics God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it.

It would be mighty hard not to notice the color purple in the field next to our church. I know I’m not alone in taking strange delight at seeing this big purple church rising in our midst. Purple is my favorite color and it is so thoughtful of those builders to know that!

Here on my desk lies the Friday, April 16, 2010 edition of The Intelligencer with a photograph of the new sanctuary under construction along with the title: "Growing congregation." We’ve had to endure some challenges in the logistics of getting into the building lately, but there is something truly magical about watching this project come to fruition. We have so much to be thankful for.

It’s important for us to notice and celebrate the wondrous deeds of God in our midst. It’s important for us to take time to thank those who have dedicated so much time and energy, devotion and ingenuity, love and (let’s face it) sleepless nights to the fulfilling of our common mission. Every other Wednesday morning, a faithful and undaunted group of individuals meet together with the builder to address ongoing construction questions and to understand the next steps in the construction schedule.

Here on the Staff we, too, marvel at the changes around us. Pastor Amelie put it aptly: "It’s so real." And being so real, it is time for us to be in conversation about the many worship issues that will require our attention as we transition to a new worship space and continue to worship in our existing sanctuary.

The Worship Transition Team will begin its work to help our congregation move into a new time in the life of the church. It will be important to hear the wisdom of many as this future unfolds. The Worship Transition Team will hold its first meeting in June and will meet monthly. It will be a gathering of staff and lay leaders with the same goal: to think together, and well, so that our common worship experience in the new space will be hospitable, gracious, and dedicated to the glory of God. If this is a conversation that you wish to be a part of, there’s room for you here! Please be in touch with me if you are a good detail person and want to join with us in reflection.

Purple: it’s a hard color to miss. And that’s a really good thing. Because sharing the story of God’s love for all the world is what we’re all about.

Blessings, Pastor Hilary