First UCC Richmond

Dear Ones, 

Spend some time at the beginning of each day until Christmas imagining what would happen if all the “things” you had were taken away. What would you have left? How would you be sustained? Who are the relationships you would lean on? How would your prayer life be different? How would your relationship with our church community be different? Pray for those who have had and are having this situation thrust upon them. And then also pray that God might move in your heart—and all of our hearts to find the depth of life only the way of the Cross can bring. 

“See these great buildings? Not a single stone will be left on another. Everything will be torn down,” said Jesus a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago, I ventured to our former location and I stopped by the house where our family had lived for all of the children’s formative years. We loved this house. We literally redesigned and remodeled large portions of it. Our first dog’s ashes are buried in the backyard along with goldfish and turtles. It will always be the house our children think of when they remember “the house where they grew up.” 

As I got out of my car and looked at it … trying not to look like either a creepy stalker or a thief casing the neighborhood … one of the owners came out, and in a wonderful act of hospitality, recognized me and invited me in.  She had met us at a former neighbors funeral. It was a strange and bittersweet experience walking through this house we had known and loved and seeing it filled with another family’s life. It was a blessing seeing this house so loved by its new residents; and it was disorienting knowing that in many ways, though it was the same, it would be forever different. 

In the end, as I drove away, I felt oddly at peace. And as I pushed into that feeling I realized that my love for that house had nothing to do with the bricks and mortar, wood and paint. My love for that house had everything to do with the love and life that had taken place within its walls. No new owner could ever change that. None of that could ever be taken away.

It reminded me of what Dave Foster said about his memories of our church and how his family participated. He was at the Auction and again at the Thanksgiving Prayer experience. 

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus supposedly said, “Change is the only constant in life” – a pre-Socratic version of Ben Franklin opining that the only certainties were “death and taxes.” That’s what Jesus said. Buildings crumble. Civilizations rise and fall. Marriages fail. Friendships end. All things can pass away and many things do. Save one. And that one is the love of God. 

We are seeing so much crumble right now. Our faith in government and institutions is at an all-time low. For the first time in ages, the generation coming of age fully expects to be worse off than the generations before it. And yet we hope. Why? Because we know that change is the only constant in life. We know that as important as institutions and places are, they are not the most important thing. The most important thing is the love of God, the love we share, the love that gives us life. Buildings could burn to the ground (a precious window saved). Not a stone could be left on stone. And it would not kill this church. Because this church has always been and will always be more than the place – no matter how beautiful the place is and meaningful it is to us. This church has always been and will always be first and foremost the love of God incarnate. Love that is for each of us and from each of us. Love that is everlasting. No one can ever change that. And no one can ever take it away.  

Advent is upon us: we will have the hanging of the greens, the Advent Wreath, and decorate on the First Sunday of Advent. Every family is invited to bring an ornament for our tree.  Remember our doors are always open and the table is always set.   

Pastor Katie 

Pastor Katie’s Office Hours and Pastoral Care

Pastor Katie will be in her office at the church on Wednesdays & Thursdays. If there are situations that arise in which you need pastoral care on a day that Pastor Katie is not in the office, please call 586-727-3155 and leave a message with Helen or on the answering machine. You can also give Pastor Katie a call:   Cell number: 586-202-8644 Home phone: 586-716-9543 

In the old days, hospitals and rehab/nursing facilities used to inform pastors when one of their flock was admitted. That doesn’t happen anymore. Pastor Katie is always happy to receive your calls.