It would appear that all the pieces are finally coming together for Saint James Kingstowne, just in time for the Franconia Volunteer Fire Dept Open House Saturday and our private launch Sunday.  The contract and deposit are in the hands of the fire dept, the last piece of tech equipment is finally on its way, everyone is doing their share in the final shopping,  someone just volunteered to do flyers for the area, etc.  It’s amazing how many pieces are involved in launching a new site!

It’s also amazing that many of us have gotten to know each other more through this process.  I will only have been on staff here 5 months as of the day of our private launch (this Sunday).  Getting Kingstowne ready to launch has been quite the marathon, but I couldn’t have asked for better people to run it with–people who give what they can, share what they are going though along the way, give each other grace, speak truth in love–is there anything more one could ask for?

There have been some challenging times along this journey, but looking back now, all I can see is the blessings.  I think we can choose to focus on the positive or the negatives.  God used one of my youth to remind me of that this week (in the roundabout and perfect touch that our Lord has).  When things aren’t looking like they will come together, we are the only ones hindered if we let it get to us.  When we choose to drive on and stay focused, we can see the beauty in the bigger pictures and the doors that are opened along the way.

My theme verse of the week:  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –Romans  8:28

Periodically, my body says to me, “SLOW DOWN!!!” Usually it says that in the most inconvenient times. After all, we are building up for the launch of Saint James-Kingstowne, working with all the various contractors and architects about the renovation at Saint James-Alexandria, our annual meeting for Saint James is coming up soon, I am part of the home-schooling team for my son, and sundry other things. Today my body whether from lack of sleep or allergies which have never been confirmed or the  beginning of a cold said its slow-down-thing. Everything was in slow motion all day and finally I just had to take nap which lasted from roughly 4pm until 7:30-ish. Even now as I stare at this screen I think what are these keys for under my fingers and what am I saying?

I accomplished part of my “list” today- evidently that is one of those things that really organized people use to keep up with all the things in their lives. I have a list, too, but it isn’t because I am organized; that’s for another blog entry. Anyway, there were things on the list that I simply could not get to- editing and posting Sunday’s message (sorry all!), more charge conference (translation: annual local church United Methodist meeting) forms, check requests and bill sorting, and answering machine listening.

Maybe sometimes we just have to slow down and if we are unwilling to “will” it and hence, “do it”, then maybe our bodies kick in and do it for us. Mine sure did today. Tomorrow I am on a panel talking about preaching and more particularly, preaching that is specifically, topically designed so that people will want to come and hear it. Actually, that is the reason I am sitting here at my laptop in the living room is to go back over some of my notes and then I simply couldn’t resist the urge to blog a bit. So there it is… Now I am back to note looking…

How often to we wish that we had more time?  We feel like there isn’t enough time in the day and we fault time.  Is the problem too little time or too many things on our plate?  But how do we choose?  There are things that have to be done, things that we want to do, things that people need, etc.

Not just that, but how often do we wish days away?  I caught myself saying today that I just want Friday to be over.  Am I ready to be finished with my Missios exam?  Yes.  Do I really want to wish a day away?  I hope not.

On the other hand, we are taught from little on up to countdown the days with enthusiasm and anticipation of what is to come.  It is part of our culture and part of what keeps us going.  James and I both have a countdown until Saint James Kingstowne launches on our laptops.  Children have advent calendars for Christmas.  Even the Bible tells us to be on the look out for Jesus’ return.  We are very future focused.

There are a few passages that have been on my heart as I have had conversations with people this week about time.  Here are some of them, if you have others that come to mind please share them in the comments section.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”

Galatians 4:4a “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son,”

Matthew 6: 34 ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Do you ever feel like there is a common thread in the people and things you encounter in life? Sometimes I am humbled and powerfully aware of a message that God has for me. It makes me wonder how many times we miss His messages. At the same time I am so grateful that He cares enough to try so hard to get into our thick and distracted heads.

This past week I have been reminded in the midst of preparations for the launch of Saint James Kingstowne, among other things, that it is not about me or anyone else. We can’t do it all and we are probably going to miss some things along the way. I find hope in knowing that He has it together and is the the one guiding us and constantly pulling us back to Him.

As for SJK, like James shared in his post, God has gone before us and prepared this place for us. As we have shared in other posts, it is evident that God intended this place and vision for us. I can’t wait to see that vision become a reality, because it is to His glory, not ours.

I could go on, but I am trying to be still and listen. I am trying to live what I feel I am being taught. I am trying to return to the heart of John 3:30, “He must become greater, I must become less.”

It seems like we’ve been getting ready to launch Saint James-Kingstowne forever and now time is getting short until it actually happens. How close is October 21st? 17 days and about 10 hours from now. The pieces are coming together. The launch team met at the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department Bingo Hall this past Sunday night to get a feel for the room. We broke out into smaller teams to be sure we had the details covered (not a strong point for me but fortunately, a strong point for Erika, our assistant pastor, and others on the team). How do you make a  temporary place a welcoming community gathering spot? What are the pieces besides our mission, vision, and values that we can bring with us to Saint James-Kingstowne and what will grow up there on its own?

Essentially the closer we get, the more I have an opportunity to reflect on what is most important about who we are and what we offer. I know that for me, I offer the experience of Jesus I cannot live without, the absolute acceptance and unconditional love of Jesus. That truth has shaped me and has shaped the ministry I do and has shaped the community of which I have a part in leading. I know that we have open hearted people who want to share the journey of faith with others. I know our style is a bit different than some other churches (just like everyone is different). In the end it was our desire to be in the intersections of everyday life that brought us to launching Saint James-Kingstowne. It was a pulling, a calling, a loving placed on our hearts from beyond ourselves that brought us here.

I don’t know what the future holds (nobody does- duh!). I know that Jesus journeys with us into the future, that he has gone ahead of us much as was promised at the tomb when the young man at Jesus’ tomb said to the women who had come to anoint his body in Mark 16:7:

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Jesus goes ahead of us and so I hold on to that, trusting that he is already where I am heading and is waiting there for me, for us.