Spaces

Word from Wiese

24 April 2024

Noah saw his dove and rainbow.
Moses spied the burning bush.
Jesus invited friends out on to the lake or retreated to the desert.

God’s splendid earth truly shines with holy spaces and places at every turn. Each April 22, I’m a little bummed we don’t figure out how to lean into Earth Day a bit more. I get it; we’re rocking with Confirmation, Senior Sunday, and more after catching our breath after Holy Week. But I hope, on the heels of the spectacular eclipse, you’ve taken some sacred moments to give thanks to God for our magnificent planetary home and what it means for us today that “the Lord God took the human and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15. May we obey thoughtfully God’s intention for us to “take care of it.”

For this WFW, I want to complement your gratitude for special natural spaces with a few other holy spaces the Holy Spirit is preparing in our midst.

Our Sanctuary

Here is a snapshot of our sanctuary as of yesterday. The renewal process seems to be ahead of schedule. Isn’t the arc of the new chancel beautiful? You can almost hear the carpet declare it’s ready for its next chapter. And someone said it would be fun to make a coffee book full of pictures of all the old pews, showing the contexts of their new homes and families. Fun to imagine those pews on their new adventures.

Bathrooms at Palmetto Road

We joke that we’ve enjoyed the cleanest porta johns in the southeast. But many of you have been waiting desperately for “real” bathrooms. Last Friday afternoon, Mark Barbour let me in the men’s’ room for a trial run. A flush never sounded so good! Mark your calendars for 10:30 AM worship at Palmetto Road on Mother’s Day and you, too, can enjoy one of the first flushes ever on the history of that land.

The Christ Our Shepherd Lounge at Lutheranch

At the Deans Retreat last Thursday and Friday at Lutheranch, we spent some time in the lovely upstairs lounge in the Retreat Center, known as . . . . the Christ Our Shepherd Lounge. It was a neat reminder of COS’ generous spirit for church camps, what we call our featured “regional ministry” to complement local and global efforts. About a decade ago, COS was honored to raise over $60,000 for the initiative. Also, it’s pretty neat that the primary meeting room is the Barkow Room, sponsored by our own Rod and Dannee Barkow!

The Bowman Home

Many of you remember fondly Ron and Ann Bowman. Ann brought smiles to hundreds with the various leader dogs she trained, including how to worship. Ron served as a Stephen Minister and cross-maker, among other serving ministries. It turns out the Bowmans, Apple Tree Society members, left the proceeds of their home to COS, specifically to drive mission at the Palmetto Road property. On Saturday, I swung by the estate sale at the home to say a prayer of gratitude for the Bowmans’ lives, faith, and gift. Thanks for your prayers and gratitude too. To the Bowmans and also to Scott Bosecker who is shepherding the details of this gift project.

Pastor Miriam’s Office

I remember how hard and emotional it was packing up my office up in Ohio after 14 years. So, we know what a job it was for Pastor Miriam after 25 years. But she’s successfully shifted her books and mementos to her home, making the space ready for our new Interim Associate Pastor. Pastor Carla Knobler started with a bang on Monday with staff meetings and evening council meeting followed by the calendar planning meeting on Tuesday. You’ll enjoy meeting Pastor Carla this Sunday and we pray Pastor Miriam is enjoying some rest and movie watching before considering the long list of opportunities our bishop has for her.

“The earth is the Lord’s, the fullness thereof.” Psalm 24. Yes, we praise God for ALL the Lord’s special places and spaces, outside and in! We treasure them indeed, and are grateful!

Questions for Reflection:

Inspired by Earth Day on Monday, what’s one of your favorite outdoor spaces that helps you feel close to God?
If you knew Ron and Ann Bowman, what’s a happy memory you have of them?
Seeing the Holy Spirit at work in our sanctuary and out at Palmetto Road, what thoughts come to your heart and mind?

Let us pray:

Lord, as you designed your cosmos, at the end of each day’s work you looked and declared, “It is good!” Thanks for all the special places that are indeed so good for us, in mind, body, and spirit. Help us live up to your hope that we would “take care of them,” these special places outdoors and in. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Christ’s hope,

Pastor Fritz