Our United Church of Christ Pennsylvania SE Conference joined with the three other PA UCC Conferences into one, and we are called Keystone Conference. This past June we had our first official meeting (there was a test run two years ago) and it was a beautiful and spiritually inspiring gathering. And while there are some very valid concerns about moving from a small conference where everyone pretty much knows everyone else to a larger conference where we have to do some work to create those relationships, I think it will be a good thing for all of us. We will have more resources, both financially and programmatically, but – mostly – I think that when we unite, good things can happen. My experience of trying to bring churches together – and mostly failing at it – has shown me that we are better when we work together.
Last week, some members of our congregation painted a temporary mural at the Goggleworks in Reading. This project is part of the Keystone UCC Open & Affirming congregations being invited to produce the same, basic mural for Pride month. It took us a while to find a location, but with the help of Rev. Donte Jones of Lift UCC in Lancaster, and the generosity of the Goggleworks, we were able to produce a very cool mural on the windows near the Washington Street entrance. The best thing about this? We invited All Soul’s church, the LGBT Center, and Reading Pride to join us – and they did! We could have done the project with 4 people, but we had 17! So, we took turns, had conversations, ate cookies, and had a really nice two hours working together. All ages, genders, sexualities, races – all kinds of different people who generously took a couple hours to produce some light in the world. When we unite, good things can happen.
Did we cure cancer? No. Did we solve humanity’s warring madness? Again – no. Historians won’t write about our little band of do-gooders painting like kindergartners, nor will the Nobel committee be notified. We can aspire to greatness, but sometimes, goodness is enough. It doesn’t take much light to dispel the gloom. Like a Christmas Eve candlelight service, we begin with one candle and share the light until the room is filled with a beautiful glow. Alone, we can do much good; together, we can do more. None of us has to change the world all by ourselves – life is so much better when we are on the journey together. Maybe this weekend you can call a couple friends and get together to do some good. Clean a street. Make sandwiches for hungry people. Go to church. Because when we unite, good things can happen.
Prayer – Holy God, You made us to be together, and Jesus told us that when two or three are gathered, He is there. Bring us together, for good. Amen.
Today’s art is some of the art we did at the Goggleworks. That’s Nina Myers peeking through the center of the sun.