New Things

I swear I don't know where time goes. For example, how is it possible it's MARCH already?!

It's been a wild ride in the weeks since returning from vacation. We have so much underway and so much coming up. I've been researching ideas for mailings (Evangelism plans to send postcards to new area residents), working on options for creating short videos for our website (I'm so excited to get this underway), working on a myriad of details for Koinonia, the new service we're starting, working with Ken to develop several sermon series for the rest of the year, and attending to the long list of other tasks that cross my desk.

In the midst of all of this, it seems spring is indeed approaching, and I was so excited to wake to SUNSHINE this morning! The snow is melting, and for all the frustration that the past weeks have caused, we are all (perhaps now even more so) eagerly anticipating warmer temps, the smell of new growth that accompanies spring, and the return of GREEN to the world.

This is not only a time of spring for the world around us, but at Calvary I think we are entering spring as well. Websters defines spring as "a time or season of growth or development". Indeed, that is what we are entering.

Calvary has weather both winter and spring times in its history. We have struggled over decisions, practices and direction. We certainly have more to work out as we gather around our vision, but we have come a great distance in the past year. Can't you feel the coming of spring?!

Now if we are figuratively entering spring even as the world around us enters the season of spring, we have to take the good with the bad. Spring may not be a time of snow (and I know you are all done with snow!) but it is a time of rain. But the great thing about spring rain is that it is nourishing and important for the flowering of all the GREEN and growth of spring. So we can expect some showers. Maybe even a lot more rain that we might like, but we must always remember that rain is necessary for healthy growth. In fact, experts tell us that in places prone to flooding (let's be honest, sometimes we get flooded, figuratively, don't we?!) the flooding is nature's way of replenishing the nutrients in the soil.

Spring is also a time of new life amongst creatures. Babies are born to all sorts of animals, and with that comes the necessary adjustment in each natural community. As we enter spring we can expect (God willing) that our community will receive new persons. We will need to adjust and make room for every to find their place. This may not always be easy, but it is always worthwhile. Recently Ken and I were talking about how many bulletins we're ordering for this Lent art sermon series we're doing (printed them in color means ordering off site). We seem to be nearly running out, and we're running 350. What a wonderful problem to have!

Finally, spring is a time when the world changes. We find flowers growing perhaps in the same place as last year, perhaps new places. Spring is an exciting time as we discover what God has been doing in those dormant months of winter. And often, it's the unexpected blooming that brings the biggest smiles to our faces. So to in the church. As we enter spring, we will see things blooming in expected and unexpected places. Perhaps our aim should be recognizing and celebrating all the blooming, and considering how to take that which blooms and cultivate it (which often involves pruning) and pulling up that which no longer blooms so that the new growth can blossom.

So let the sun shine, the temps warm and the flowers bloom. On to spring!