Did you see the “mom”dala in front of Waverly this morning? Happy Mother’s Day from Waverly UCC Youth!
We’re installed a Community Garden. The produce goes to Clay Street Table to help feed those who don’t always have enough. Join us this summer for more community events!
Monday April 29th I board a train to Olympia to begin my sabbatical with a few days of rest and reflection with the sisters of the Priory of Little St. Placid. And Waverly UCC begins 3 1/2 months that promise to be delightful, challenging, and energizing. I hope everyone will deeply engage with the church’s sabbatical experiences: gardening, labyrinth walking, spiritual practices workshops, and excellent—and different—Sunday worship experiences. If that sounds almost too much, try this: just show up and enjoy!
So that this will be a true sabbatical, I will not be available to you during this time. Please direct your church and pastoral concerns to half-time interim pastor Rev. Paul Davis and to Moderator Andrew Millar and the other lay leaders of the church. I feel very blessed to be able to leave Waverly in such good and capable care.
Please hold me in your prayers as I will hold you in mine.
Blessings always,
Pastor David
Nampa United Church of Christ is pleased to announce the acceptance of nominations for the Alan Creech Memorial Scholarship. Dedicated to the life of service of former Nampa Chief of Police Alan Creech, this scholarship will continue Alan’s work to help youth who might otherwise not be able to continue their education.
Nominations will be accepted through May 15, 2013
Information, qualifications and nomination forms can be obtained directly from our church website www.uccnampa.org or by contacting the church by phone (208) 466-6581. Please disseminate this information to all who my know of and would nominate a candidate. Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of Alan by continuing helping a youth in his name.
God Bless
Alan Creech Memorial Committee
Nampa United Church of Christ
55 S. Midland Blvd
Nampa, Idaho 83651
208 466-6581
One of my sabbatical practices will be to “see Jesus in three people each day.” It’s another practice of attention—being fully present to the person in front of me. When we are present, we connect with the divine in the other. And also, I find, just reminding myself that the divine is before me brings me to deeper presence.
I found myself following this practice as I was visiting Auntie Vi last week. It has been more than a year since she knew who I am. On a good day, when I spoke about Waverly she too might have something to say about church. Last week it was not a good day. Her breathing was more labored and she rarely even opened her eyes. She didn’t speak. And I looked and saw an image of Jesus, as true as any painting or crucifix. I held Vi in still, wordless prayer and knew Jesus present before me—enduring, mentally lost, working with each breath, Jesus present in Vi, and folding her in loving embrace all at the same time.
Vi has made it to 100 years old, and at this point I just desire a final peace and rest for her. And I am thankful that even now her presence is a gift.
Blessings,
Pastor David
What a splendid time in the life of the church. A bunch of our great musicians put together a grand, raucous Palm Sunday procession—just the right spirit for the day. Maundy Thursday and our Tenebrae reading of the passion, interspersed with Taizé music, brought quiet and depth to Holy Week. And then Easter: starting the service in the dark as the women approached the tomb and then blazing into light and life at the word, Christ is Risen!
And now it is the season of Eastertide. We continue in the light and life of Easter as we move toward Pentecost, as we explore what in the world it may mean to us to declare Christ is Risen! Mystery and the courage to act—to live our faith even without certainty—these seem to be themes emerging in these Sundays as we engage the post-resurrection stories from scripture.
It is a splendid time to be part of a community that does engage, in all our doubt and wonder, that does trust enough to live out faith as well as we can each day in all that life brings us.
Enjoy these great photographs, courtesy of Marie Brandis. For more images of Easter at Waverly, please visit Waverly Facebook Photos from April 1.
24 March 11:00 a.m.
Palm Sunday will commence with the traditional palm branches-waving procession. Except this year it will be a bit more lively, maybe even raucous. Why that’s completely appropriate for Palm Sunday will be covered in the sermon: “Theater of the Absurd”
28 March 7:30 p.m.
Maundy Thursday / Tenebrae. This is a simple, meditative service that remembers the last supper and then moves us into the darkness of Good Friday. We will begin with communion (all are welcome) and then move into a reading of the passion story from Luke, interspersed with music from Taize.
31 March Easter!
10:00 a.m. Easter egg hunt for the children, followed by coffee and donuts.
11:00 a.m. Worship — come on into the sanctuary for the dramatic opening to our celebration! If you’re able to, bring some fresh flowers from your garden to become part of the flower cross we’ll create as the service gets underway. Sermon: “An idle tale…”
Following worship we’ll have fellowship/coffee hour and our Annual Easter Bake Sale. The proceeds support our campership fund, assuring that everyone who wants to can go to Camp Adams this summer for a full week of living in the deep love and acceptance extended to all — the very reality that we proclaim and celebrate this Easter and every Sunday.
Come to any and all of these services and celebrations.
You are welcome here!
