South Congregational Church
Pastor's Corner
Dear One and All,
I'm very pleased to be called by you as your interim minister. You have already made me feel most welcome and I thank you for your fellowship as I look forward to meeting many more of you.
I want to write to you about that word and concept of 'time' for a moment (no pun intended).
Some time ago, I noticed the walk up the smooth, green slope from the parking lot to what was then the new Timex headquarters in Middlebury. The setting is meant to be a transformative journey. Cars are hidden behind a bank of trees, for example. A large wooden sculpture modeled after a Native American sundial sits along the pebbled path. The curved glass building sits atop a hill, literally and structurally reflecting the contours of the rolling landscape.
One specific design feature which helps to announce that this is Timex country is an oculus -- a round 'eye' punched into the building's domed roof -- the oculus directs shafts of sunlight onto a solar calendar laid out on the floor. The building itself is a watch.
I sight the unique structure to illustrate the rhythms of the life of the church. Whether we in the church mark time by the ticking of a watch, the arc of the sun, or the changing of seasons, the rhythms of our private lives are not the same as the rhythms of God's time. The life in the church involves learning to live into the rhythms of God's time. God's work goes on in season and out -- even when seasons come and go, the school year begins and ends, and the days become longer -- then shorter.
Surely God's time for us together will include waiting, patiently accomplishing the many waiting tasks, wise discernment, and moving forward together as we boldly choose the best options.
In the forthcoming months we will need to redeem the time and work consistently towards the important goal of your calling a settled pastor. As we are faithful I'm very sure we can expect the leading of the Holy Spirit in your selecting the best settled pastor for South Congregational Church.
Blessings and love,
Pastor Stan
Interim Minister
