Two Family Reunions in One Week

Last night I had the most fascinating experience of going out to eat with 32 of my cousins of varying layers from my mother's brother's side of the family as we gathered here in Logan, UT after my aunt's funeral yesterday afternoon.  It was wild for me because most of them I had never met, and those I had met prior I had met only once, at my grandfather's funeral in 1980!  

As we sat at the restaurant, I couldn't help but think of you, and the church in general.  After all, this is what we do each and every time we gather around the communion table, correct?  We welcome any and all members of the family, those who have been around for a long time, those we haven't seen in a long time, those who are not 'officially' members yet but are invited by the fact that we gather together - and we break bread, drink, and share stories.  Some we know intimately; others we tell for the benefit of those who gather for the first time.  But no matter what, we gather because we have been called together as members of a family, and we will always have that bond, even if we don't see each other but every 30 years or so.  We may not always like or agree with those with whom we gather to dine, but the fact is that is who we are as family.

I'm glad to have been for these two days, because I have learned a lot about myself and from where I came, from those who share similar roots, seeing and experiencing part of the family I could not due to geography and chronology (I'm the youngest of the cousins by a long shot.)  Coming in, one of my cousins called me to make sure I got in ok, and I told her to relax - I would be easily identifiable, for I'd be the one in the black suit who's the only one in the room who talks right... :)

This was on the heels of our annual session of the Louisiana Annual Conference, another family reunion held in Shreveport, LA from Sunday - Wednesday of this week.  Through worship, prayer, study, teaching, debating, listening, and conferencing, we were able, once again, to do most of the work of the conference.  I will have a little bit more to say about the specifics of AC on Sunday.  However, this week was highly instructive for me, as we had three new people to conference in our contingent, and, rather than doing the instinctive things that come to someone who has attended AC sessions for years, I was reminded of the need to take time to explain and lead others through what comes so easily and naturally for those who have been at it for a while.  I think this is a good lesson we must keep in mind as we seek to continue to do the work of God through the people of North Cross UMC.

The best family reunion that will happen to me this week will come Sunday, when we, the people of North Cross, gather once again for our time of worship and fellowship.  Whether you are there every Sunday, simply a part-timer, or just want to come check us out, I look forward to seeing each and everyone one of you around the family table as we share each other's journeys simply by being together.

Grace and Peace, Lamar