Dear Partner in Ministry,
Years ago, I served as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) on the US-Mexico Border, working at a small Presbyterian Church in Douglas, Arizona, two hours southeast of Tucson. A few days after arriving, a congregant proudly shared that their town had the world's only "church square" — a block off the main park where each corner held a Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopalian, and Methodist Church. They weren't the only churches in town anymore, but their beautiful, solid buildings stood as reminders of this sleepy border town's once-thriving community of ranchers and copper miners.
Later, my supervisor, the Rev. Mark Adams, shared that each of those churches was struggling. Dwindling congregations made sustaining a pastor — let alone the building itself — a challenge. A plan emerged to create one ecumenical congregation, with the goal of stewarding resources more wisely and infusing new energy by combining populations. In a remarkable feat of ecumenism, the congregations reached agreement on who would pastor this new church and what worship would look like. But they could never agree on which building to use — so the plan never materialized.
It's easy to be hard on those congregations — but their impulse was deeply human. Our church homes are, of course, more than just meeting places. They are memory, identity, and legacy. Every stained glass window, engraved pew, and cornerstone represents the faithfulness of those who came before. They anchor us in a story larger than ourselves.
This coming Sunday, our youth will lead us in worship, exploring the idea that more than any physical place, it is God who is our rock and cornerstone. In worship, we give thanks for the congregations that have formed us, the places that have shaped us, and most importantly, the God who gives life, purpose, and meaning to it all.
I look forward to worshiping alongside you.
Meghan
