Dear friends and members of University UMC:
It’s the beginning of a new school year! Often at this time of the year, I recall a scene from the movie “You’ve Got Mail” that came out years ago. In this romantic comedy, the two leads are played by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. They meet online and begin corresponding by email. In one exchange, the character played by Tom Hanks emails early in their friendship saying, “Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." I’ve always loved that line because I love school supplies. I enjoy shopping for them at the beginning of each new school year. Maybe it’s because they remind me of my own childhood. Maybe it’s because I delight in my own child beginning a new chapter in life. I’m sure it’s both! And I’m certain I like new school supplies because they symbolize a fresh, new start.
In last Sunday’s sermon, I preached about hobbies and pastimes as God-given gifts. When we engage in activities that bring us joy, hobbies have the capacity to renew our spirits. Perhaps there is an old hobby you’ve been missing that you can pick up again. Maybe you’ve been wanting to engage in a daily devotional or spiritual practice. Maybe it’s being more intentional about spending time with family and friends. This is a great season to begin again. Many people have the habit of naming New Year’s Resolutions in early January, but I’ve often found that the start of a new school year feels even more like the start of something new.
Schoolchildren and parents step into a routine this time of year. Alarm clocks are set earlier. Lunches are prepared and backpacks are packed. Soon there will be a natural cadence of drop-off and pick-up times. While most of us reading this note are no longer in school ourselves and don’t all have school-aged children, we can receive this season as an opportunity to begin again.
As we continue our sermon series, the scripture reading from Psalm 90 remains before us: “Teach us, O Beloved, to honor each day that we may have a heart of wisdom.” Wisdom deepens when we are attentive to the people in our lives, our surroundings, and the thoughts and emotions that rise within us. Wisdom expands when we are intentional about how we use the hours we have been given by the Creator. Sometimes a schedule can seem like a life-draining chore. This is true. But at times a schedule can assist us in spending the hours of our day in ways that are life-giving and life-affirming. It provides structure and can help us in prioritizing the practices we say are important whether it be a brief morning devotional, an evening time to journal and reflect on the day, or a mid-afternoon moment of centering prayer.
I leave you below with Robert Fulghum’s beloved “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” and a quote by writer Annie Dillard on the beauty of having a schedule and routine. Blessings upon this new year for students of all ages here at UUMC! And I hope to see you all on Sunday for an exciting morning filled with prayers for teachers and students, a ministry fair, and a pie competition. If you haven’t already, make sure you check out the pie competition video below for a good laugh!
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
