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| The Case of the Blue-Green Shag CarpetThe members of music ministry team, its supporters, and I had such a wonderful time on our trip to San Luis Obispo and Atascadero. Luanne and Rachelle opened their Morro Bay home to us with tremendous generosity. The people of the Atascadero United Church of Christ were gracious in their welcome and appreciative of our ministry. The church itself was a lovely white New England style building with a steeple, polished wooden pews, and charming stained glass windows. We travelers had a chance to review some of our own history in ministry, and to share with our new friends from our learnings. I must confess, however, to one distressing aspect of the whole experience, which made a big impression on me: the floor of the church was covered with blue green shag carpet. I mean late sixties/early seventies era carpet. I mean in the church, all over the chancel, all down the aisles. I mean it soaked up the sound, startled the eye, and amazed the mind. Is must have seemed like a good idea at the time (it did sort of match the aqua color of some of the stained glass), but even I (a person unskilled in matters of interior design) could see that it was hopelessly outdated and did nothing to enhance the appearance of what was otherwise a very attractive space. Now I'm as resistant to change as the next person. I don't like it when people I care about move away. I don't like to have my routines disrupted. And I certainly don't like conflict, which is sometimes a by product of change. But that carpet was shouting a message to me that concerned me greatly. The message was, "We need everything to stay EXACTLY the same as it is right now." I sympathize with the longing for consistency, but I feel compelled to shout back at that carpet, even from this distance, "Sometimes change is a GOOD thing!" Hard for me to accept as it is, I must admit to myself this is true: sometimes change can be a good thing. Seeing Luanne and Rachelle in their new home is one good example. I was sad when they left San Diego, and they were too, but now I see what a good move it was for them. They love their jobs, they're living right by the ocean, and they've found a church home to share their musical and leadership gifts. Another good example is our own church sanctuary. We made some big changes nearly ten years ago that gave us a much more usable, intimate, and beautiful worship space. The side walk across the courtyard is a more recent example. Before being built, it was hard to visualize. Now we wonder how we ever got along without it. In some ways, though I often wish it weren't so, change has to be a way of life for us at PB UMC. People go and people come, and we have to be ready to say farewell and to welcome newcomers and the talents and special qualities they bring. Programs and ministries evolve, and sometimes they don't look the way they used to anymore. The gift of change is that we learn to put our trust in God. God will lead. God will provide. God will continue to fill our hearts with love. I am thankful for the staff members and church members who are being called to new locations in life and ministry. I am thankful for the hardworking committees who plan for and facilitate transitions, while keeping essential elements of our ministry in place and running smoothly. I am thankful for all the input being shared through the church wide survey. I am thankful for what God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives together, and for the way that the leadership Council is willing to listen to the leadings of God's Spirit. I am even thankful for blue green shag carpet, and the encouragement it gives me to embrace change as something that can make life better, not worse. The case of the blue green shag carpet reminds me that sometimes change is a good and necessary thing. Peace to all, Pastor April
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