Third Time’s the Charm
“What troubles have we seen,
What mighty conflicts passed,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Since we assembled last.”
In 1749, Charles Wesley wrote the hymn, And Are We Yet Alive. We sing this near the opening of Annual Conferences across the Methodist connection. In recent years, the third stanza of the hymn has captured me every time we sing it, because each year between the gathering of these conferences has seen and held so much. So many troubles and conflicts seen, so much fighting and fear on full display.
But the hymn doesn’t end there. Wesley continues with the fourth stanza:
But out of all the Lord
Hath brought us by his love;
And still he doth his help afford,
And hides our life above.
If we’re tearing up singing the third stanza, the watershed breaks singing the fourth.
As the gathered leaders and members of the Annual Conference flip through the mental rolodex of conflict and hard times that have presented themselves in the last year, Wesley reminds us that as we stand together, we are brought next to each other by none other than God’s love.
This moment is something we might experience in a smaller or different way in worship each week: no matter what the week held or what has happened since the last time we gathered, each Sunday we are brought back together by none other than God’s love. At times it feels easy and at times it feels impossible. This is why God’s spirit tirelessly works to nudge us closer to one another, so that we can support and honor each other both when it’s easy and impossible.
Below are snapshots of our First Church folks at work during conference – the third and most intense work of the three on my conference schedule this year! In the coming weeks you’ll get a report of what took place at the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference last week, including reflections from some of the First Church folks who were there or participated online. Until then, may God hold you and bring you close to the ones who love you until we meet again (hopefully on Sunday to celebrate Drew).
Peace,
Pastor Karyn
