It’s hard to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic began over 5 years ago.

Not only was it a transformative time in our culture and individual lives, but it also marked a moment of transition for the church.

We began streaming worship online (remember worshiping from “Studio 65”—aka the Parlor?), and we learned how to create community while being physically distant (remember Leslie’s retirement drive-by parade?)

We also took the disruption to our “normal” as an opportunity to discover what God had created Brecksville United Methodist Church to be—reminding ourselves of who we had always been so that we could live into it with more intentionality.

We were reminded that Brecksville United Methodist Church is called to create safe spaces to grow with God and one another.

When we began gathering again in-person in 2021, it didn’t take long to realize how much had changed: people who had been “BUMC staples” were no longer with us – due to death or moving away – and we had many new faces who began calling Brecksville UMC their spiritual home.

At the same time, we became exceedingly aware that the relationship between the church and greater culture had drastically changed. Trends that we had been seeing for years finally came to a head. People were worshiping less often, and the likelihood that someone new would walk into the church became as likely as someone attending a wedding they weren’t invited to.

I’m very proud of how we have handled the plethora of transitions that have come our way. Throughout all the changes, we have stayed attuned to where God is leading, allowing the Spirit to direct everything from sermon series and songs sung in worship, to how we govern ourselves and what mission opportunities we say “yes” to.

At the same time, I realize that the “regular” person in the pew might not know a lot of what’s been happening—both within Brecksville United Methodist Church and the communities we serve, and the greater Church culture. So, on April 27th, we will have one worship service at 10:30 where I share the “State of the Church.” We will gather together as a community of faith, celebrate what God has been doing in our midst, and pray that God’s wisdom will lead us into the future.

Then, after worship, we will gather for a time of conversation and intentional listening. We will learn what people’s passions are, how they hear God calling us to be in partnership with our communities, and pray for each other.

Everyone is invited to attend this Listening Post—whether you’re a life-long BUMC-er or are brand new to BUMC. While I have no idea what the future holds, I’m confident that God is calling us to work together to share God’s redemptive hope and love with the world.

Thanks for being on this journey with me, Pastor Heidi

Questions we’ll explore at the Listening Post

• If you were mayor of your community, what’s the first thing you would do to make life better for you or someone you love? 
• Could you imagine ways BUMC could be part of a solution? 
• If you were to ask a friend, what would they say about BUMC? 
• Where do you sense God moving?

GRAZING TABLE

What’s a joyful gathering without food? Not so joyful! We need your help to create a grazing table, a buffet-style display of bite-sized items like cheeses, cured meats, fruits, vegetables, dips, crackers and sweets that we can “graze” and enjoy while we’re having conversations at round tables. Can you contribute to the display? Bring your items prepared for grazing (cube the cheese, clean the vegetables, slice the oranges, etc.) to be added to the table. Drop off items in the kitchen before worship on April 27.