Saugatuck Congregational Church, UCC
©Rev. Alison J. Buttrick Patton
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Scripture: Romans 1:1-17 – New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Dear Church,
From Alison, servant of Christ Jesus, called to preach the Good News that God is alive and at work among us – ever faithful, ever laboring with fierce compassion to mend hearts, gather the people and restore creation. Being persuaded that Christ was sent to launch a movement to pursue God’s holy project, calling us all to live the love and justice of Jesus.
To the members and friends of Saugatuck Church, who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people: Grace and Peace to you,
First of all, I want you to know that I give thanks, every day, for your unfolding faith. The news of your faithfulness has spread all around town. In my travels, I hear Westporters speak about the church that opens its doors to 12 step programs that save lives. They say this is the church that hosts memorials for any grieving family; blesses animals, welcomes community groups and makes space for all kinds of people. I hear it told that Saugatuck Church has a big heart and a generous spirit.
Beloved, I don’t know whether you think of yourselves as faithful, individually. I have heard many of you say: “So and So is much more faithful than I am; I’m not really a religious person; I have so many questions.” I want you to know, that when I hear you say that, I think:
Thank God. Thank God that you are here, willing to confess your doubts; ask your urgent questions; sit in the room even when you’re not sure where you fit into this Christian Church we inherit.
Thank God that you have been bold enough to show up, for the first time, or week after week – when you are feeling upbeat or optimistic, and maybe even when the world around you looks bleak, and your own spirit is weighed down.
I thank God that you have opened your arms to each new person who has walked through that door, that you have served each other coffee, greeted the children, washed the dishes, and exchanged the ordinary details of your lives with each other, time and again.
To be sure, that is not all that God calls us to do together, but if you have any doubt that faithfulness begins with showing up, I ask you to consider Dan Long.
Beloved Church, in these days since Dan’s heartbreaking and untimely death, my inbox has been flooded with emails from many of you, notes expressing your shock, grief, and admiration for Dan – long time member, deacon, artist, and current vice moderator. Like many of you, I am crushed by this loss.
I have had the privilege of witnessing Dan’s spiritual journey over the last seven years. I know that he had plenty of his own questions about faith.
But what has become clear this week, is how many of you were touched by Dan. Collectively, you have borne witness to his faithfulness. Yes, Dan was a fun, curious, creative, friendly guy. It is tempting to say that connecting came naturally for him.
But make no mistake, Beloved: his showing up was a choice, an intentional effort to reach out to and deepen relationship with members and friends of this congregation. This I know: He did it, not just for your sake, or for his, or for mine, but for the sake of this entire community, because Dan believed that we have the power to do something meaningful and important together, on God’s behalf.
Dan had faith in this congregation. Faith that we can live the love and justice of Jesus, that together we are resilient, creative, and resourceful.
This is what I mean when I say that we are better together than we are alone. To paraphrase Paul’s words, we can be encouraged by the faithfulness we find in each other, both Dan’s faithfulness, and yours and mine.
I know, some days are harder than others. I want you to know, Beloved, that I am continually praying for you and for this church. Sometimes, my tears are my prayer. Sometimes, I make lists, in order to pay attention to each of the struggles you’ve shared with me over the course of the week. I remember those who are in need of comfort or healing (Jane Mangold, Austen Doolittle, Bill Laughlin), and the people who tend to them (David Mangold, Kathy Griffin, David and Andrea Cross…). I think of those of you who are looking for courage or wisdom, and call on the name of God to send God’s Spirit to empower you.
When the deacons gather each month, we pray together, reading your names out loud. Last Tuesday, we lifted up the members and friends whose last names begin with H through L… From Hallas to Long and everyone in between.
In all my prayers, I am always giving thanks and asking God to bear us up, to stitch together the torn-apart places, to strengthen and equip us to be the church that God needs and to show us the way. I do it, because I believe that God listens, and God remains faithful, even when the world seems to shift off its axis.
It can be hard to trust that, in the midst of personal or collective turmoil. I confess, I have wrestled with the Holy One this week, because Dan’s death has robbed us, not only of a devoted friend, husband, father and grandfather, but also of a leader, one whose faithfulness I greatly valued; so many of us did. But then I read your notes and listen to your testimonies and my own faith and gratitude are restored.
Beloved Church, this is why I preach the gospel. Because I look around and remember: When we show up, so does God, every time.
That’s all I’ve got. Today, that’s enough.
May the fierce, tender, tenacious, unending love of God bless you this day and every day.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Alison