Pastor’s Corner

Dear Seekers and Soothsayers ~

    As pastor of Joyce, on the occasion of the celebration of our 125
 years, I wish to present the following:

     1).  AN INVITATION TO ATTEND the celebration, (11 a.m. on Sunday,
 November 13), as a way for you to learn about Joyce's illustrious
 past. (Perhaps the free, catered meal and special music will draw you
 to the event), and,

     2).  A PERSONAL PRESENTATION of the highlights of the next 125
 years of worship in and service to the Upton Community.  Now, keep in
 mind that this is a real pipe-dream.  However, we're fairly confident
 that our loving and sustaining God would back it up:

      a.  Joyce will remove all the "religion" from our church operation.

      b.  Joyce will replace religion with life-giving and
 drum-thumping spirituality.

      c.  Joyce will be empowered and inspired by its L.G.B.T.Q. constituents,
           who will make up more than two-thirds of its "membership."

      d.  Joyce will become even more of a loving home to "misfits,"
 (including our own grand nephews and nieces, and our great, great, great
 grandchildren).

      e.  Joyce will have rewritten the purpose of our own
 denomination, defining "United Methodism" as a full-community effort to employ
 "methods" which are not about bureaucratic bean-counting but exuberant
celebration of God's presence in our midst.

      f.   Joyce will replace "wordy" pastors (like me) with servants who will
           allow their actions to speak louder than their words.

      g.  ("Actions" I say?  No doubt ones that give new power to the beautiful
           life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth).

      h.  Joyce will be strengthened many times over by its cooperation with
           and undying respect for Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Bahais,
           and all streams of consciousness of that
           celebrate the reality of a personal, forgiving, loving, and eternal
           God.

      i.   Joyce will be a home for and a help to persons who live beneath the
           poverty line.

      j.   Joyce will risk its non-profit status by speaking out against national
           policies and declarations of war which emperil our planet and every
           form of life upon it.

      k.  Finally, Joyce will serve the best and only the best chocolate chip
           cookies in all of Christendom.

     There you have it! A total of 250 fantastic years at Joyce, the
"Uptown Church of joy."  
Thanks to all of you who have helped and will help to make it possible.