Nina Simone sings,
“It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me and I’m feeling good.” If I can take a little creative license here, I’d like to say, “it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for (us) and (we) are feeling good.”
It is interesting and quite paradoxical to say that we feel good during this time of Corona, when we are still worshiping virtually, when we can’t hug each other’s necks in worship, and when we see cases rising rapidly all over the United States; and yet, in the midst of the unknown, we are experiencing the goodness of a new day in the life of Stanwood UMC.
This is not to say that things before now were bad, it is merely a statement that acknowledges the good things that have gone on before and the good things that are to be done in the future!
I am grateful to Pastor Dan for his very many years of service here at Stanwood, and I give thanks for his ministry in your midst and pray that his retirement is one of richness and deep blessedness. I am also grateful for his help in the time of transition! And now, it seems that we are a month into transition and things are moving along.
In this first month, I have seen many of your faces on zoom, in one-on-one socially distanced meetings, and in socially distanced open houses at the Parsonage. The love and the help and the welcome have been great! A friend asked me how different it was to begin in a new church in the midst of Corona-times, and it is different, but it has been full of blessings! You all have found creative ways to welcome me into your midst’s. You also were very welcoming to my Mom while she was here helping me get settled. (She is now back in Mississippi).
So, THANK YOU! You have stepped up and been the church in creative and bold ways!
I wanted to use this article to introduce myself a little bit more and explain how my days in the church office will work. Before I tell you more about myself, I want to share my schedule with you all.
I will be in the office Monday thru Thursday from around 10am to 4pm (if not in office available by cell phone). Fridays, however, are my Sabbath days. I am a huge proponent of Sabbath because as Shelly Miller writes, “A life built upon Sabbath is contented because in rhythms of rest we discover our time is full of the holiness of God.”
In order for me to be effective in my job, I need this day to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate. On Fridays, I do not check email except for in the afternoon. I also turn my phone off and check it about 3 times. If there is an emergency, leave a message, as I check those, but I typically spend my Sabbath day unplugged from work. You will begin to understand more about my rhythm as we work together, and I often preach on the necessity of Sabbath. It is a foundational and necessary rhythm in my life.
More about me, the person: I am single, and I am an only child. However, I have lots of friends and “siblings” that are not blood related, but still my family.
During non-Corona times what do I like to do for fun? Well, I like to go to concerts, I love going to sporting events (Go Sounders! Go Storm! Go Seahawks!), I like to venture around Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland to discover new things about these cities that are so close to me!
I love art, music, the outdoors, swimming, boating, exploring!
I also like to be home curled up on the couch reading a book, talking to friends, playing on my iPad, writing, and sometimes cooking.
I am a big reader and collector of books! I love a good signed first edition and I have many.
You will also find out that I am a HUGE fan of the Mississippi State University (Hail State!) Bulldogs (alma mater). And I still get season tickets for our women’s basketball team, although I give those tickets to others to enjoy since I am up here. If sports are played this fall/winter/spring, you will hear all about them I am sure.
Finally, I am so happy and humbled to be your pastor. I bring with me numerous gifts and passions. I am gifted and passionate about creative worship, spiritual direction, deep listening, being a contemplative activist, and seeking to be a safe harbor for all people. I also bring the unique gift of having a theology that is deeply Wesleyan, trinitarian, and at the same time committed to the liberation of all people, the church, and the world.
I look forward to getting to know each one of you better and being in ministry with you in the Stanwood/Camano area and the world! My prayer is that we all would be working together for God’s Kin-dom to come here on earth, now! Let us walk together, build God’s Kin-dom here, and seek to live as people of justice, mercy, and love.
With Justice and Joy,
Pastor J.
(He/Him/His)