The weekend just passed was amazing, terrible, joyous and incredibly busy. It began on Friday evening, with a weeding rehearsal at the Deeds Carillon. The wedding included Celtic elements with which I was unfamiliar, including a handbinding, a common cup, or Quaich, and traditional pagan vows. On Saturday morning, Shiloh held its mini-retreat, which I led, that deals with implementation of Shiloh's next five-year plan. That meeting took place from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Then, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary, Shiloh hosted the memorial for long-time devoted member, Martha Hogg. After the memorial, it was off to the 3:30 wedding. Sunday, September 11, we remembered together the terrible events of September 11, 2001, as Shiloh held its Fall Homecoming. All three Sunday services were a mix of celebration, remembrance, sorrow and joy.
Among the highlights of the weekend was the Celtic Wedding on Saturday afternoon. The couple, Michael and Gwendolyn, were fortunate to avoid rain, overcome the public address announcer from the University of Dayton football game, and experience a truly unique wedding ceremony. It was an honor and a pleasure for me to work with them, and to be part of their day.
The memorial service, held in memory of Martha Hogg, was one of the best attended and spiritually fulfilling events of the past few years. Friends, family and members of the congregation gathered to remember and celebrate Martha's long and important life. Many requests have been made for copies of the poem, The Final Journey, which I recited in the service. The poem was written by a gentleman with whom I used to work, Rev. Dr. Harold P. Schultz. It was to be read at his memorial service. Copies will be placed on the green table for pick-up on Sunday.
The Fall Homecoming featured three occasions for remembering 9-11-01, and for using the tragedy to shape the practice of our faith into the future. At the 8:30 service, the fastest growing worship opportunity at Shiloh Church, we focused on the possibility that we might shape the world differently by living differently in it. At 10:30, Shiloh's more traditional service, we discussed the antiquated thought that each nation had its own god, its own totem and talisman. Today, we know that, "only to the extent that God is God of all is God the God at all." God is God of all peoples, all nations, all religions and philosophies, all economic and political statuses, all colors, kinds, creeds or clans. At 7:00 p.m., Shiloh's more contemporary service, we focused on the parable of 9-11 as a new opportunity for us to discover and live in God's grace and peace and mercy.
The new Post-Service Applications (P.S.A.'s) were a success. More than forty persons gathered, following the 10:30 service in the Omega Hall, to apply the message of the day to everyday life. This intentional attempt at both fellowship and spiritual development was led by Jim Eller. I sincerely hope that everyone joins in these conversations.
The event that will, I hope, be most central to the shape of Shiloh's future, however, was the mini-retreat. The gathered leaders walked through the two previous five-year plans, measured their success, their failures, and their challenges, and looked carefully at the plan for the next five years. The remaining weakness of the first two five year plans was the failure to inspire the congregation members to embrace a thriving personal sense of spiritual calling. Because it is possible that Shiloh has reached a point where its organizational structure is bumping up against its increasing spirituality, it may be time to alter Shiloh's structure. The goal for the next five years, then, is to provide a structure that lends itself to more intentional spiritual development and more careful ownership of personal spiritual calling.
Three task groups were formed. The first is responsible for designing a process for moving into a new organizational structure. This group will establish milestones, celebrations, an a time-line. The second group formed will examine Shiloh's by-laws for ways that the congregation might move officially into a new structure. The third group is responsible for communication, both internally among the working groups and externally, to the congregation and community.
I am excited about the potential of matching an organizational structure to the developing spirituality of Shiloh Church. The more holistic attempt, where the practical structure reflects the spiritual ethos, may lead more organically to greater ownership of personal spiritual calling. Thanks to those who attended, and to those who are leading our working groups, it looks like a bright and faithful future for Shiloh Church.
Come and be a part of the excitement!
See You Sunday!
