A Moment for Mission
“Blossoms have appeared in the land;
the season of singing has arrived,
and the sound of the turtledove is heard in our land.” —Song of Solomon 2:12, CEB
We drove off a main highway, down a winding dirt road. At the fork in the dirt road, we came across the familiar sight of a cross on a white, wood-sided church. The building was constructed in the one-room church design that was typical in the 1880s.
We crossed over into the one-room fellowship hall, a much newer shed-like building, where covered dishes were sitting on long tables. People came to introduce themselves, telling us the different dishes they brought and what we needed to make sure and try. The spread was impressive, with just about every kind of meat you can imagine—all fried—along with a mix of collard greens and other vegetables, each mixed with bacon or pork of some kind. But the dessert table literally “took the cake” as even more fantastic.
We listened to people’s stories and learned their names. Slowly, they began to bring me—a city slicker who didn’t know to take my shoes off, and someone who had never seen nor heard of a zither or an Autoharp—into the sacred fold. In just a couple weeks, we would return not as guests but as the appointed clergy.
I was enfolded in a circle of healing. A circle that shattered my stereotypes, deflated my ego, and put me back together as a more whole person. A decade later, alongside my wife and co-pastor, Jill, we are still serving rural congregations. It’s an honor and a privilege.
Adapted from “Circles that Heal: Fresh Expressions of the Rural Church”
On Rural Life Sunday, we celebrate the rural heritage of The United Methodist Church, recognize the ongoing crises in rural areas of the United States and the world today and affirm the interdependence of rural and urban communities. The special offering strengthens the nurture, outreach and witness of congregations in small-town and rural areas.
Children’s Message
Prop: toy farm set or tractor
Have you ever visited a farm or a farmers’ market? Why are farms so important for everyone?
When you go to the grocery store, you can buy crunchy apples, juicy peaches, tasty tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. You may get meat to cook burgers or fried chicken.
Farmers usually plant seeds in the spring and harvest crops in the fall. They may raise cows, goats, pigs and sheep. Without their careful planning about which crops to plant or which animals to take to market, we would find empty shelves at the store.
Our church celebrates a special day called Rural Life Sunday. “Rural” means areas outside big cities. This is a time to remember farmers and to thank them for the work they do.
Prayer
O Lord, you have given us the gift of land.
May we ever protect and preserve it.
O Lord, you have given us the gift of water.
May we keep it pure and safe.
O Lord, you have given us the gift of air.
May we keep it pure and fresh.
O Lord, you have given us the gift of plants and trees.
May we ever use and protect them justly.
O Lord, you have given us the gift of birds and animals.
May we preserve and enjoy them.
O Lord, you have given us care of the earth.
O Lord, we accept the care of these gifts as our sacred stewardship.
Amen.
(MELVIN E. WEST, U.S.A., 20TH CENT.)
Newsletter Nugget
“Blossoms have appeared in the land;
the season of singing has arrived,
and the sound of the turtledove is heard in our land.” —Song of Solomon 2:12, CEB
A popular song from the musical “Godspell” is “All Good Gifts.” Composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz gives “God’s almighty hand” full credit for feeding and watering the fields humanity plows and the seeds we scatter.
The chorus contains the lyric: “All good gifts around us are sent from Heaven above. So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love.”
United Methodists celebrate Rural Life Sunday on a day selected by each annual conference. This Special Sunday, with the opportunity for a special offering, is a perfect time to thank God and the many people who tend the soil, ensuring healthier lives for people they may never meet.
Indeed, Rural Life Sunday is a day of thanks!