The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
(John 3:8)
During Lent last year, I (Megan) had lunch with a friend who shepherds a congregation on the east side of the city. Over fried chicken sandwiches, my friend shared a longing to see her church released from “relentless boat-rowing,”—a tireless effort to sustain and maintain—and instead, learn to “tack in the wind”—to trust more freely and fully that Christ is at the helm of the Church and has lovingly given us the Holy Spirit to provide day-by-day direction. I went home and promptly sketched a sailboat. That same week, during a group prayer exercise called Visio Divina (a contemplative practice that invites meditation upon an image), I unconsciously selected a photograph of sailboats from a pile of random pictures (pictured above). A week after that, a friend shared a verse (also above) from John’s Gospel during a prayer call.
“Okay, God,” I thought. “I’m listening…”
What does it look like to be a church that depends upon
(and waits for) the Spirit to move us, just as a sailor depends upon
(and waits for) the wind to move her?
As we begin another calendar year, we want to take this opportunity to share some of the ways we’re seeing God move across our body and across the surrounding university community—ways that encourage us to keep trusting the Spirit’s lead day-by-day.
Becoming a Praying Community
One of our hopes for 2023, was to open ourselves to more regular times of communal prayer. With that in mind, we kicked off the year with a Sunday morning prayer journey throughout the church building and Rohs Street Cafe. In partnership with Impact Campus Ministries, we came together in prayer to invite God to dwell deeper in/around the university. On Ash Wednesday, we formed a 6-station prayer journey in the sanctuary, inviting members of our fellowship and the surrounding campus neighborhood to encounter God in different modes of reflection and contemplation throughout the day. What a joy to have nearly 50 seekers pass through! Our prayer walking continued across campus, as students returned to the neighborhood in August. Then, in October, we hosted Jon Davis with Fresh Expressions, who lead a two-day prayer workshop, that sent us out of the building and onto campus once more. Pray with us that the ground of campus continues to be good soil for God’s Kingdom to grow.
Campus Presence
We are learning that one of the primary ways we can “show up” for the campus is by being generous with the use of our building. Last year, we played host to several organized groups and one-off gatherings. Young Life Collegiate, Edge House, IFI, Impact Campus Ministries, and student leaders from CCM, the UC Opera Club, and the Bearcat Media Club all utilized our building at various times throughout the semester. During finals week—both spring and fall semesters—we came together as a fellowship to provide home-cooked meals for students studying for their exams. Last fall, we explored sidewalk pancakes again, this time finding the 10pm–midnight hour to be a most exciting time to be slinging hotcakes! And mindful that multiple, 1-on-1 touch-points matter, we were also able to engage students in more conversational settings over Valentine’s card-making, Christmas cookie-decorating, and by handing out fresh fruit on the sidewalk and winter welcome bags in the cafe. In addition, both Shannon and Jeffrey have continued to invite UC students to volunteer on Sunday mornings, in the atria/nursery and on-stage leading worship. Pray with us that relationships with the campus will continue to grow strong into 2024, and that God will continue to water the many small, relational seeds that have already been been planted.
One Body, Many Parts
We continue to bear witness to the reconciling love of God by pursuing relationships with worshippers across the city and across the globe. In 2023, we continued to develop relationships with brothers and sisters of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, coming together for a potluck meal in January, city park outreach in October, and sharing together in worship twice during the fall semester. Following Jesus’ teaching to be in proximity to the poor, several from our fellowship regularly gave their time last year to prepare a meal for men in the shelter of City Gospel Mission. And heeding the call to “love our neighbor,” a group of us spent a morning in May at Hughes High School, serving breakfast and coffee to hard-working teachers and faculty. In June, we sought to cultivate an “on earth as it is in heaven” encounter, during OneNight, a worship event that brought more than 100 Jesus-seekers together for an evening of song and praise. That same month, we welcomed back our sister, Leslie Hall, who shared stories of God’s power and movement from her vantage point in London. We also were able to bless and pray for our brother, Randy B., as he returned to his work in Kazakhstan. Pray with us that God will continue to open doors for cultivating cross-cultural, cross-racial, cross-generational relationships to form amongst his body in 2024.
One Building, Many Uses
Because our beloved building is so active throughout the week, UCC leadership decided it was finally time to move forward with the installation of an air-conditioning system on the cafe side of the building. We are hopeful that this new addition—now completely installed—will aid in our ability to provide a welcome and hospitable environment to many. Let us come together in gratitude for the faithful giving of our community, which makes projects like this possible. Pray with us in thanksgiving for God’s ongoing provision, and join us in asking the Father for good wisdom and discernment as our leaders work together to steward financial resources in 2024.
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There is so much more to celebrate, and many more ways we’re seeing God move throughout our life together as UCC. We’ll close by sharing some prayer points for our fellowship in 2024:
Lord, we praise you for the renewing work you’ve continued to lead amongst our fellowship. This year ahead, will you deepen our abiding, O God. Will you help us surrender our wills more fully and freely over to you, O God. Will you give us persistence and endurance to keep walking your ancient paths, O God.
Lord, we ask you to continue strengthening our discipleship to Christ. Lord, be working through Sunday teaching, through CARE groups, through bible-discussion groups, through prayer groups, through EQUIP groups, and through the spontaneous and unplanned encounters we have with one another. Lord, continue to form us into a Jesus-shaped church.
Lord, we ask that you continue to reveal how you are calling us to join your Kingdom work in the world. Make clear the paths that allow us to lead and share from our gifts and passions. Lord, give us clarity in our vocations.
Lord, we lift up our Lead Team. We ask for wisdom, clarity, and unity amongst this team of leaders, especially as they continue to guide our fellowship in discernment.
Lord, we ask that you would fill every gap, fill our every need according to your perfect will and perfect timing. We join together in prayer, fully trusting your goodness and grace. Amen.
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Thank you for continuing to be a faithful, regular part of the UCC community. It is a true joy to serve alongside each of you for the sake of the Kingdom.
Grace and peace,
Megan and Jeremiah