by Jason Byassee
Jason Byassee
Several of you have asked about the trips I have taken with folks from Boone Methodist. I’m delighted to share a little.
I believe deeply in the Christian practice of pilgrimage–that is, traveling together to meet God. A pilgrimage is different than a trip. With a trip you go the fastest way possible. With a pilgrimage you go expecting to come back different. It is hard to say in advance precisely how Jesus will meet you on a pilgrimage. Some are expected–where you’re going, with whom, what the purpose is. Others are not–God is always a surprise.
This church has a long history of pilgrimage, even though we haven’t necessarily used the word. We have sent mission teams to Guatemala for more than a decade. We have sent pilgrims to Walk to Emmaus retreats for decades. These have come back ready to work for the renewal of our congregation in ways that have brought new life to all of us. I was grateful to participate in Emmaus about a year ago and to see for myself what a blessing it’s been to so many. Our youth ministry has hiked Wilderness Trail for a week in a trip that has transformed countless teenagers’ lives. A newer pilgrimage is one several of us have gone on to see the work of Zoe in action in Rwanda.
This year I have invited a handful of you each to travel with me to Mepkin Abbey outside Charleston, South Carolina, to Hope College in Holland Michigan, and to Israel. These have had different goals. The Trappist monastery is a place where monks–professional praying people–fulfill the Psalmist’s promise to praise God “seven times a day” (Ps. 119:164). I have found that the monks have taught me how to pray in ways I never imagined before. Those who have gone with me have found something similar. The trip to Hope didn’t initially have pilgrims thanking me (Michigan in November–woo hoo!). Several leaders of our 8:45 worshiping community traveled to witness The Gathering at Hope College, a campus ministry in an ornate gothic church that draws more than 1000 students per week. We also worshiped at Pilgrim Reformed Church in Holland Michigan and took back copious notes from each place. If you’ve noticed 8:45 worship has been rich lately, thank those who went and have led differently since. Our Israel group had a remarkable time seeing places Jesus and the disciples touched, walked in, prayed in, and died in. I trust those who have gone on each trip will never be the same.
I myself have always loved to travel, and have found leading pilgrimages to be a way to travel that blesses our church. They remind us that life is a pilgrimage. If we have our eyes open God will constantly surprise us.
If you have interest in these or another pilgrimage please let me know. I warn you–you won’t come back the same.
We have some noteworthy changes coming to our pastoral staff. The most significant is that Denise Stanley will step away from her regular office work as our communications director. She has lent countless hours to this work and has made our staff and entire church better for it–be sure to thank her. We will have to make a hire part-time to replace her. She isn’t going anywhere! She and Charles just want more time to devote to their family at this important stage of its life. She will continue to serve in our church in countless areas and in individual projects on behalf of the staff.
Patti Connelly has agreed to serve as a volunteer Director of Adult Ministries starting January 1. Patti is seeking ordination as a Methodist deacon in West Virginia and has been serving among our older adults as a volunteer for some months now. As with all our pastors she will not do the work alone. She will see that we all do the work together. Please see Patti or email her with ideas for helping folks from early retirement age to 100 to see the face of God and become more like Him.