A Journey
By Rev. Nancy Salisbury

Someone wrote a play based on the Biblical story of the Exodus.  In the Biblical version, God’s people were freed from slavery, then began a forty year journey as a newly freed people.  They ran into many challenges and tended to complain about the poor conditions.  Eventually, after a whole generation, they arrived at the land that God had promised.

In the play about the Exodus, a group of people were on a long journey.  Every so often they would get lost and forget why they were on the journey in the first place.  So at those times the leader would sit them all down.  First, he would tell them the story of how they had been slaves, but God heard their cries and set them free.  Now they were on a journey to a new place that God had picked out for them.  After the telling of the story they would sing a song, for courage, and set out again.

So every Sunday we sit everyone down and retell the stories of our faith.  This helps us remember who we are and why we are on this journey in the first place. Before we’re done, we sing a song for courage and then get on with the journey.

Sunday mornings are central to the life of the church.  It’s where we remember who we are, connect with each other and strengthen ourselves for the journey. I enjoy helping to make Sunday morning an occasion where everyone knows they are welcome, where everyone feels accepted and worthy of God’s love, where everyone’s contribution is valued.  From that center we go out to live our lives, trying to pay attention to what God is doing next.

This Lenten season I hope God is strongly with you, strengthening you on your own journey of faith.  And please know that everyone is welcome on a Sunday morning, no matter where you are on the journey.

Isn’t that what the life of the church is like?  We are on a journey to a place we haven’t seen yet.  We are part of a very old story, but sometimes we forget that we are part of something much greater than our little congregation.

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Rev. Nancy Salisbury has been the pastor of First Congregational Church of Gray since December, 2008. She welcomes your questions and concerns about spiritual life, and how you can become a part of our growing faith community. Please visit our Contact page for information on how to reach Pastor Nancy.