Grateful and Generous…That’s Who We Are: A Reflection from Hal

“If the only prayer you ever say is ‘Thank you!’ it will be enough.” ­
– Meister Eckhart, 13th c

This congregation never ceases to amaze me.

• Last week I saw a CSU University Distinguished Professor (a member of Plymouth) cleaning the bathrooms at church while our sextons are on vacation.
• This morning I read an online post of gratitude from one of our members who is nearing the end of life.
• Yesterday I learned that there are about a million cookies being baked for Geri Stutheit’s memorial service on Friday.
• Last week our Trustees Chair negotiated a contract on our behalf that will bring in $15,000 in the next year for 17 parking spaces rented during the week.
• We have a “trinity of treasurers:” three people who give more than 20 hours each week keeping Plymouth’s books.
• This week I saw a big team of deacons (and former deacons!) who took the initiative to use a creative litany for World Communion Sunday, bought different types of breads…joyfully led by the chair of the deacons who volunteered at all three services.
• Today, I’ll see a wonderfully warm and welcoming Plymouth member volunteering at our front desk to answer phones, help out, and provide hugs to staff, members, and friends.
• And at last night’s Leadership Council meeting, I saw ten people (who work assiduously to set the course for our congregation) have a really creative discussion about how we can say thanks to the enormous range of people who volunteer at Plymouth.
• This is love in action! And that’s just the beginning! There are literally hundreds of other ways –- big and small -– that our members’ generosity of time shapes lives every day…and I wish I could thank each one!
  
  

As I was musing about all the gifts given at Plymouth, it occurred to that even a small group of us could never make all of this loving ministry happen alone, and every member of this congregation is the recipient of others’ love, time, and ministry. That is what gives me pause…to be in awe…to say “Thanks be to God…and thank you!”

This coming Sunday, we are taking a page out of NPR’s book and putting our stewardship campaign into overdrive: taking just two weeks to raise the $900,000 that will help make mission and ministry possible at Plymouth in 2019. It culminates on October 28 with Baroque and Burritos…stay tuned!
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The sermon on Sunday is on one of my favorite texts when Jesus asks us to “Behold the lilies of the field…how they grow!” Have you ever marveled at the beauty of nature? How could you live in Colorado and miss that?! How can we fail to miss that wonder and awe? How can we fail to say “thanks!” to God for the glories of creation? We did nothing to deserve the beauty of the lily, to deserve a relationship with God, to be the generation that lives in such material and spiritual abundance. And so we respond…by saying “Thanks!”
 
Deep peace,

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Author

The Rev. Hal Chorpenning has been Plymouth's senior minister since 2002. Before that, he was associate conference minister with the Connecticut Conference of the UCC. A grant from the Lilly Endowment enabled him to study Celtic Christianity in the UK and Ireland. Prior to ordained ministry, Hal had a business in corporate communications. Read more about Hal.