This Week at First Congregational Church

I have a word to share with you, and it doesn’t have much to do with the reading for the week, except that it brings an old television show to mind. If you watched The Gong Show you will remember that it was like American Idol except that acts faced elimination by the ringing of a gong at the back of the stage. I may be gonged before I finish. If you have read this in the Caller, you may ring the gong now.

Most of us have heard about “Jacob’s ladder” and we might even know a catchy tune about climbing that stairway to heaven. Jacob saw the ladder after coming to a comfortable spot and falling asleep with his head on a rock. In a dream, he saw heavenly beings going up and down the ladder and received a blessing from God. He woke up and exclaimed: How awesome is this place!

As I contemplate the ending of my interim time with you, I cannot find words any better than Jacob’s – How awesome is this place! In April, I will start full-time as the Associate Multifaith Chaplain at Bates College. My family is very excited that the word “interim” or “acting” is missing from this title. As my daughter Elena said, “you finally have a job that isn’t temporary!”

I love interim work for many reasons. It is a time when we are reminded to stop and look around. Before Jacob shouted “awesome!” he said, “Surely God is in this place and I did not know it!” That is the gift of an interim time. Like a racer who stops for a moment, we raise our heads, look around and find that we are surrounded by holy wonder. Soon, it will be time to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ,” (Philippians 3:14) but for now we look in amazement as the backdrop is revealed to be a work of surpassing beauty.

Thank you for inviting me to join you for a small part of the race. You have given me a blessing that will remain with me always. I am sorry to be leaving before the settled pastor comes, but I trust that God has great things in store. Surely, God is in this place.