Joe's Journal

May 23, 2008

Last Saturday night the Knuckleheads and David LaMotte treated us to a wonderful concert in Byrd Hall. While we’re still waiting for the Knuckleheads’ first album, David LaMotte’s latest album is titled Change. Its title track is called “Keep the change,” a play on words to give “a tip” to the world. Change is a challenge, though it’s a sure sign of life. It might feel chaotic, but as we learned last Sunday, creation comes from chaos, and creation is a very good thing, according to the end of Genesis 1.

(cont.) This week we’ve experienced a monumental change for our congregation. The Stewpot meal service has moved to the city’s new homeless assistance center, “The Bridge.” Tuesday night, a huge group of volunteers from our Session, as well as others from the congregation, served the first meal. Our meal was chicken salad, lettuce, croissants, fruit salad and a rice krispie treat—not our regular hot fare, but it took a monumental effort from Brenda and our kitchen staff, as well as Ed St. John, our director of operations to pull it off. We welcomed over 300 guests coming in from the 95-degree heat into a room without much air conditioning because a sliding door was off its track, letting the cool air out and the warm air in. Suffice to say, it was a bit chaotic!

But creation comes from chaos. In time, I believe we will achieve an order, a rhythm to our new pattern of three meals a day, seven days a week. Wednesday morning, my wife, Jennifer, was out the door before the crack of dawn to meet her Bible study group to serve our first breakfast. The kitchen is coming together even as I write this article. By this time next week, we’ll be much closer to finding our rhythms.  

As God’s people, we are called to wade into the watery chaos of our world to be part of God’s creative presence.  This week, I’ve tasted that chaos and creativity in a powerful way.  Thank you to all who waded into the waters this week to be part of our new beginning at The Bridge.

In Christ,
Joe