Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 15, 2024
** The numbers and the reasons for the decline in church attendance are well documented. Although the percentage of Americans who have de-churched has grown, the desire of the American public to find and experience a church like community has also grown. These new assemblies and communities tend to be cause centered, with a focus on the environment, food scarcity, rights of women, indigenous peoples, animals, political and all the other issues that both attract and divide us. The experience of belonging, of being accepted, is essential to me and a belief to us all. In 2025, we will learn more of assemblies and communities, as well as the efforts of the church to attract new and retain current members.
- The words awe, inspiring, and joyful move our eyes, heart, and spirit upward, outward. What or who in your wonderous world of images, sounds, and events lift you, add to you? Your awareness and insight can be read in the Comments box at the end of the Sunday Letter. I am encouraging all of us to see the candlelight of goodness and hope in a troubled and magnificent world.
“The purpose of mature leadership is not to count followers, but to create and support new leaders.” Tom Peters, Writer & Educator
** Friday evening, The Turtle Creek Choral, for the 5th year, presented their Christmas concert at Broadway Baptist. The 300plus attending were blessed by the music, readings, and the voices of two hundred men. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is hosting a guided light tour for the 3rd year. Companies are hosting employee gatherings, churches will welcome children, members, and guests to Christmas Eve services. Today, Beth has organized a Santa Fe inspired tamale making afternoon with friends. These weeks are indeed colorful, festive, and full of wonder.
- I recently had the surgical removal of a Basel Cell Carcinoma growth. The stitches to closest the wound will dissolve soon. I am also aware of how many are experiencing the “wound” of a recent or long-ago death, of fear and worry of jobs and family security. Friends and national leaders have had physical hiccups, now with surgery, therapies, and recovery. The wounds of life, work, and family are also a part of this season of joy. Balancing, finding your way through, is best done together, clinging, holding tight, learning, sharing.
Roy, best to all in health, wounds, and awe and wonder. May you and your family or friends find peace and love.
Mr. Rogers urged us to look for the helpers, and you are certainly one, Roy! This weekly offering always gives me food for thought and a bent toward seeing the best in each situation. Blessings of the season for you and Beth.
“Being bent” comes to all who believe, who look for the best.
But, bent and all the other broken crayons in our box of wonderous colors will still draw faces, smiles.
Color on bent or broken
You be special…….Mr. Rogers told m so.
I choose to be a part of an organized church that continues to not only feed my soul but to extend their reach far beyond our beautiful church. Because of our leadership UCC is committed to a robust outreach ministry. Everyone is welcome and celebrated. I grew up in a church that was selective about those that were worthy; it is such a blessing to not be judged. You and Beth extend a hand of friendship to everyone and are so much richer because of it. 2025 holds Hope if we choose to embrace it.
Broadway and UCC show forth Light and Hope in the best of true ways. Mr. Roger’s would have applauded both.
Love to you and Beth 10 DAYS before Christmas 2024.
Frank
We looked for you both Friday at Broadway and Turtle Creek concert
Inspiring and wonderous in all ways……. RB
We forget that none of this had to exist — that we weren’t owed mountains and music by the universe. And maybe we have to forget — or we would be too stupefied with gratitude for every raindrop and every eyelash to get through the daily tasks punctuating the unbidden wonder of our lives. But it is good, every once in a while, to let ourselves be stupefied by gratitude, to cast upon ourselves a spell against indifference by moving through the world with an inner bow at every littlest thing that prevailed over the odds of otherwise in order to exist. A quotation from this morning’s edition of The Marginalian, the twice weekly musings and observations of a polymath nsmed Maria Popova. Love to all!!!
I receive Maria’s inspiration as well. Always helpful and supportive of Hope.
New male friend. 30+ yrs banker. Concrete learner/all about transactional.
5 yrs ago he read of Gratitude, became life changing for him.
We share iced tea and talk together aboit “the sacred” of places and daily life.
This is good and spirit healthy for us both……as are you in all ways.RB
Community is everything! I enjoyed our being in community on Friday night at Broadway Baptist Church for the Turtle Creek Chorale concert. May it continue to grow.
We should have compared our wounds from basal cell surgery. I had mine on November 4th and now I carry a small scar under my left eye. It’s nice that our medical community pays attention to our needs, and can protect us from bad decisions in our earlier days.
Keep us thinking!
And we have to be our own advocates, make the appts, show-up.
Yes, community showing us all in the best of ways at Broadway.
Turtle Creek began 1980 with 30 men.
And now you have reavel before you…..take us with you.
More for us in 2025…….RB
Heal well my friend! I had a similar surgery as well as a melanoma. Helps remind us of our fragility. And the three words you celebrate remind us of our humanity.
If melanoma is a 10, Basil cell is a 2.
Melanoma surgery 2009 and 2013. Real surgery of long ago, gurney and all.
Since 2009 I have derm eval every 6 months.
AS with all of us of age, cancer – heart – and falls are a part of our days and relationships.
So are awaking’s, achievements, and joy.
WE continue…..I am grateful.
RB
I have found a healthy community to radiate truth, honesty, healing, respect, dignity, love, companionship, friendship, support, with a helping hand extended to assist each in the community to find their GOD INTENDED SELF.
Peter, give your self credit for being your own advocate, doing the follow-up, and supporting others as they also support you and your health. Whatever we do, we do together, RB