Nexus News- August 7, 2009

Image by bandita via Flickr

Nine months, one week

If I were pregnant, I'd be awaiting the birth of a child.  If I were in school, I'd be awaiting promotion to a new grade.  As your pastor now for nine months and one week, I'm eager to see where our journey together with God will lead us.

Several of you tell me that you notice God's Spirit actively working in and through Nexus church. I am aware that everyone now connected with Nexus is taking new steps - small steps and big steps.  I see you doing things you never thought you could.  I see you claiming new ministries of service and compassion and hospitality.  I see you letting the word of God challenge you.

I am also aware that many are dealing with situations they had never expected.  As a community, we know about loss - loss of relationships, loss of health, loss of income, loss of certainty.  And as a community, we are beginning to trust each other enough to grieve our losses together.

As a community, we're also learning how to celebrate together.  We are blessing marriages and relationships, welcoming births, blessing homes, and baptizing children and adults.  We're also inviting family and friends to "check out" Nexus Church.

I am truly blessed to be your pastor and friend.  I appreciate your growing willingness to invite me into the joys and concerns of your daily lives.  Vince and I are refreshed by your continuing hospitality.  We thoroughly enjoy living in this corner of Ohio.  Thank you for making it all possible.

Kayaking, fishing, canoeing, and conversation

What a wonderful and relaxing time last Sunday at the Nexus family and friends picnic and outing!  Our group included 15 adults, 5 children, and 2 dogs.  We arrived by car and bicycle.  We ate and ate, talked and talked, and many of us went down the Little Miami River by canoe or kayak. Some fished in the river and others played cards.

Already, I'm getting notes from folks who couldn't make it last Sunday but are saying they will definitely be there "next year."  So I guess we've started another Nexus tradition.

Many helped make the event possible - thank you!  Helen Ulrich and her family deserve special thanks for finding such a good place, making the arrangements, doing publicity, and setting things up.

And mark your calendar for Aug 30
Kim Martin and Corinne Cross are hosting a pool party at their home immediately after church on Aug. 30.

Pop Quiz Update
Last week I asked you a question about the racial and ethnic backgrounds of students in the Lakota School District.  Thanks to one of the faithful readers of this note, I now have the latest available data from the 2007-2008 school year:

• What percentage of students in the LakotaSchool District are students of color?  21%
• What percentage are white or Caucasian? 79%

I shared this information last Saturday morning at a Sacred Conversation about Race which I helped lead with the leadership team for the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association of UCC churches.  Some in the group, especially those who were born and raised in ButlerCounty, were most surprised to see how much Butler County has changed from their childhood and youth.

The whole conversation was very positive and hopefully will encourage many other sacred conversations about race.  To me, it was a vivid reminder that the sooner we talk about the issues that can be used to divide us, the sooner we will discover the common humanity that unites us.

Enough, Already!
This Sunday August 9 the theme is "Enough Already!"  How might we respond when life give us more than we think we can bear?  Our point of departure will a fascinating story from the life of the ancient prophet Elijah.  You can read the story in 1 Kings 19:3-8.

Chip Bramlage and the Nexus Singers and Band will inspire us with music.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Krista Bramlage will lead the children in New Explorers.  Sandi Lerman will teach us new sign language.  Ty and Brian Smith will set up our worship space and make announcements.

See you Sunday at 10:00 a.m.!

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike