Mona and the 5 Practices

For lunch today, I had a half of a ham salad sandwich on white, some tortilla chips with ranch dip and punch, concluding with snickerdoodles for dessert which I ate as I drove along A and then 116 to get back to the interstate and listened to Cypress Avenue on the radio and the strangely wonderful Tom Waits. This was my lunch because this morning, I had a charge conference at the church pictured here, McBee Chapel UMC. This church fellowship was established in 1888 when quite a few more folks lived out south and east of Braymer. There is fairly large and well kept cemetery out back (the church is well kept as well). This is the first church closing I will have seen from beginning to end. I was able to answer most all of the questions, and they (about 10 folks) were able to make decisions around their bank accounts, property inside the church and membership of those on the rolls. The great thing is that the cemetery association wants the church and will maintain it as a place for special worship experiences like homecomings and will continue to be a community gathering place. It was a VERY congenial meeting today. They decided not to have a special closing worship service (they are officially closing on Dec 31) but will use their traditional carols and candlelight service just before Christmas as their last worship service. There were of course some tears today but these farmer folks are realists and understanding the turning of the seasons. I am so glad they are going out well---and that they are making good decisions. We held hands and prayed together at the end of the meeting and then adjourned downstairs for the above mentioned lunch. There were cheese and egg salad sandwiches too, and coffee available.

But what I have not said yet is that although I arrived in Braymer at 9:40 with about 15 minutes yet to travel to this country church for the 10 am meeting, I did not arrive at the church until 10:50. Because (and not for the first time) I got lost going to McBee. I had called the very faithful lay speaker who has spoken twice a month there for 14 years, Ray Anderson, early this morning to get directions. The directions he gave me were correct. However, I did not follow the last road (Carroll County RD 160 I think) as far as I should, and thus began my increasingly frustrating meanderings up and down Elkton Road, Pleasant Hill Road, Carroll County Roads 101, 106, 105, and KK and C Highways. I knew Ray did not have a cell phone and anyway there is basically no coverage south of Braymer, I finally headed back to Braymer to find our pastor there, Barron Willer, to lead me out. When I got closer to Braymer coming from the south, I heard a beep and there was a voice message from a woman named Mona who said she was at McBee Chapel, was a member and they were afraid I was lost. It was quite foggy this morning. But that was no real excuse. I got hold of her and she had me drive back down A and wait for her at a crossroad. She was driving a dirty (my car is one ball of dust right now as you can imagine) white pick up, which is her description and had a cattle watering tank in the back. I told her it looked beautiful to me. And she led me to the church, where people were very nice to me, blamed my error on the fog, and then had this very sacred and congenial meeting.

Mona is Lyman McBee's daughter and Joe McBee's sister. I knew it as soon as I saw her in the cab of the truck even though I don't think I had met her before. I would guess her about 40 and she has a very lovely smile. And her act of kindness to me, I think exemplifies all 5 practices of a fruitful congregation. Here is what I think:
Radical Hospitality: Obvious here. But she went the extra mile of tracking down my cell phone number through the First: Braymer congregation.
Passionate Worship: She certainly instilled in me heartfelt and very honest prayers of praise to God when she said, "just stay at the crossroads and I will come lead you here."
Intentional Faith Development: I learned today (as I learn way too often) that I am a fallen human being. But I experienced the grandness of God's grace when I arrived at the church and everyone was so nice. I wouldn't have made it there without Mona
Risk Taking Mission and Service: Coming out in the fog in that pickup certainly was risky today, and coming out to find a wayward d.s. was certainly a mission and service as far as I am concerned.
Extravagant Generosity: Mona acts as treasurer of the church, and even after she had to go out and get me, she (and the others there) acted in very generous ways as they discussed missional uses of their remaining accounts.

I had people tell me afterward that they had heard "horror stories" about church closings, and were so grateful to me. Who they should have been grateful for was Mona and her spirit. But I did say thank you.