Early evening one Sunday our Community Group decided to take a Trolley ride down Main Street to the South Main District and back. Our intention was to pray for the people we saw as well as get a mental snapshot of who all is a part of our primary mission field at First Church.

You may or may not have heard yet, but there is a special called General Conference for the United Methodist Church being held in St. Louis February 23–26. This special General Conference will begin to come to the attention of the nation through news media and social media platforms.

As we worship together in such a beautiful and spacious place, it has become more obvious than ever that there is so much more room for others on Sunday morning. Since the rebuilding of the Pepper Building began many years ago, the people of First Church have made many significant and intentional decisions to rebuild and provide space for a large congregation with a very active community of faith.

Last week I had what I would consider a thoroughly civic Monday.  I began the day in the deep recesses of 201 Poplar and ended the afternoon in the chambers of the Shelby County Commission, serving as honorary chaplain and giving the invocation before the County Commissioners met.  

I do believe God possibly ordained my time in 201 to make sure I didn’t let the whole County Chaplain thing go to my head.