How do you talk about "the end" of things? Norwood Presbyterian Church has been dwindling down and the finances are in the dumper It was announced in church yesterday that our last Sunday in existence will be Feb. 4, 2018. How did I end up as an elder on the last session before we would cease to exist after 130 years?
It all seemed pretty business like until it was announced in the sanctuary. I can't just sit and shed those lovely silent tears. It is always the ugly cry with sobs and red and swollen eyes. And I also know that there will be so many more Sundays like this one. Our last Advent. Our last Christmas eve and Christmas as a church.
I know that I have been turning this over a lot - but that is how I process and here is where I choose to write these diary/blog posts. I'm not at all sure about what will happen with the Bear. If Beloved can't run it I will be looking at the Norwood churches as I want to keep it in the community. But now I need to turn all of this over to God, and trust that all is well and that whatever God's plan is for me and my family of faith, we are ready to step up to what is ahead. We are ready to make it into a beginning.
Such a beautiful photo for such a sad narrative. I can't even begin to imagine what it must feel like. I know I have been praying mightily that your church would find a way to continue. Perhaps God was testing you to see how long it would take you to give it up to Him. We don't always know His reasons but we should know that He always does what is for the best. We just need to keep the faith
@cdonohoue That is certainly understandable. My church was heading in that direction til we got a young dynamic minister. He has turned things around, but the mainline Protestant church, I'm afraid, is not attracting young people the way it used to. Families are busy with social, athletic and school activities even on Sunday morning.
