Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this eNote to our faithful and devoted community of radical and contextually conscious followers of Jesus Christ, I am thankful for our congregation’s commitment to unity and collaboration with others.

Earlier this week, several Wesleyan congregations in the Middle Tennessee area gathered as a worship cohort group to explore, exchange ideas, and connect with our Wesleyan roots on the Trevecca Nazarene University campus.  Rick Quinn, one of our staff members, thought it was a good idea for Sam Green and me to meet.  Sam, Professor of Worship/Arts, and I connected well and then posed a question, “What if we considered gathering a few pastors and worship leaders to discuss worship and reunite our Wesleyan branches?”  We planned the event and the gathering happened Tuesday of this week.  Our Wesleyan family reconnected our branches with brothers and sisters from the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Nazarene Church and the United Methodist Church through our shared Wesleyan theology of worship.  The family was unified!

Interesting that God would assemble this diverse body as a sign of unity right before the weekend of the White Supremacy protests in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro.  God offered us an alternative view.  David on his pilgrimage with the Israelites writes in Psalm 133:1, “Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one!”

Tomorrow several faith leaders are gathering in Murfreesboro as a sign of solidarity and to stand against racism, bigotry and hatred.  McKendree will be represented because it is out of our baptism covenant that we stand, “Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?”  WE DO!

Whether you can gather tomorrow or not, you can pray and resist evil in any forms that they present themselves each and every day.  Thanks for trying another bold and courageous step.

Hear the W.O.W., the Words of Wisdom,
“Unity is a God thing!”

Remember to pray The Lord’s Prayer every day at 12 Noon!

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!
Pastor Stephen