Hello, Friends! 
     This coming Sunday we’ll have the honor of participating with Emily Sullivan in her confirmation as a  professing member of our congregation of the United Methodist Church.
     Emily and I have been meeting for weeks, spending time with Scripture and the teachings of our tradition.  As is always the case when we’re supposedly “teaching,”
 I’ve been learning a lot from our process, and thinking anew about the whole issue of commitment to church membership, and what it can mean.
     One thing I know for sure is that it does mean something, and I think it means something good, valuable, even practical, to join a church—and really mean it.
    We all know this, but sometimes our consumerist, gratification-oriented culture can lull us into forgetfulness of this basic truth about life—
     We only get out of life what we put into it, what we invest with our time, our talents, our energies, our disciplined and committed selves.
      As John Lennon taught us, “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
      Committing to faithful participation in the Body of Christ can make all the loving, life-giving difference in the world, and not just to the one making the commitment.
A community of like-minded faith friends has enormous, bountiful creative, healing capability.
    Though Emily is about to take off for college in Arkansas, she’s going to continue blessing our fellowship by growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God’s loving purpose for her life.  My hope is that she’ll find a faith community there in which to invest, and commit, and evolve as a beautiful, powerful ambassador of the Gospel.  And she’ll do us all proud, I have no doubt.
    I hope you’ll invite a young person you know and come yourself this Sunday, and tune in to the words being spoken, the prayers offered, the promises made before God and the community.
    I hope you’ll prayerfully consider your level of commitment to Christ’s loving way, and whether deepening your connection with St. Luke UMC is a good thing for you, here and now.
       For six weeks from October 5 through November 9 I’ll be hosting a class for those considering membership, or desiring a refresher course.  And I’m always eager to visit with you one on one about anything, and certainly about anything related to your intentional spiritual path.  
      I look forward to honoring Emily’s commitment, and to recommitting with you this Sunday, and all our days to come.

Shalom,

Sarah