Waiting for the next step FROM THE EDITOR


T


his was supposed to be a column about hope. It’s a new year. We survived 2020! It’s time for a fresh start! You know, all of


those things you’re supposed to say and feel when you turn the page on the calendar. But, a family member was diagnosed with COVID-19. A bomb went off just 15 miles from my home on Christmas morning. Te Fellowship announced the cancellation of our much-anticipated 202One event in June. Te Fellowship’s offices were relo- cated (to a different floor within the same building, but a move is a move). Te chaos and insurrection in our nation’s capital caused a whole bunch of anxiety. All of those things happened in … (checks calendar) … yep, just


two weeks. Sigh. I’m fairly certain, while it might contain different items, you


could compose a similar list for your own life and work. It’s no wonder we’re all exhausted. Lord, have mercy! Tis issue opened with an excerpt written by Margaret Silf.


When the newly-formed 2021 WorshipArts editorial committee met virtually for the first time last fall, this excerpt became the guiding document for our work. We don’t know what our next step will be, but we


trust God to place the stone so we can take that step. And so, there isn’t going to be a grand narrative arc


to this publication in 2021. Just like you’re doing in your own contexts, living week to week, worshipping in-person or virtually, changing plans at a moment’s notice, as an editorial team, we’re going to live issue to issue, adapting as our situation changes. Is this a terrifying proposition for a second-year


editor? Absolutely. In fact, as I write this note, we’re still in the infancy stages of our April issue planning. Tat’s, quite frankly, uncomfortable. But change is uncomfortable. As someone who spent time in her graduate studies


2021 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE


Tracy DePue is Spiritual Director for InsideOut Spiritual Living in Little Rock, AR.


Juan Huertas is Pastor of Houma First United Methodist Church in Houma, LA.


Joy Lamb is Director of Worship Arts at The United Methodist Church of Gales Ferry in Gales Ferry, CT.


Sara Collins, reviews coordinator, is Music Director at Shelby Congregational United Church of Christ in Shelby, MI.


Dakota Hill, publications and media coordinator on The Fellowship’s National Board, is Director of Music and Worship Arts at Dyersburg First United Methodist Church in Dyersburg, TN.


Dave Wiltse, editor emeritus, is a retired Michigan Conference graphic artist who lives in Grand Rapids, MI.


Rick Wiltse, advertising coordinator, is a music teacher and children’s choir and handbell director in Grand Rapids, MI.


Carla Swank Fox Editor carla@umfellowship.org


___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6


January-February-March 2021 • WorshipArts • UMFellowship.org


focusing on organizational change and leadership, I learned a lot not just about the tactical strategies of going through change, but the deep internal and emotional impact of change. In their book Te Heart of Change, John Kotter and


Dan Cohen write, “You can’t plan for what you don’t understand.” We’re feeling the emotions of a change that we don’t


understand, and so we can’t make plans. I think that’s where we are right now. We’re waiting for God to place that next stone, while acknowledging that everything we once knew is being dismantled. While we’re waiting, we can take time to reflect and


acknowledge our grief and emotions. Tat’s what this issue is designed to help us do. Our newest editorial committee member, Tracy DePue, offers us a framework for intentional self-inquiry. Leah King shares a parable by way of a beautiful photo essay. (You’ll want to read this one more than once.) And we hear from Lindy Tomp- son and the editorial team of Fellowship Reflections, our newly reimagined weekly devotional emails, on embrac- ing the mystery of God’s will. We encourage you to take some time for yourself


before we head into the liturgical busy-ness of Lent and Holy Week. Pause. Listen. Reflect. And trust that God will place that next stone. Because this weary world sure could use some rejoicing. Maybe this is a column about hope aſter all.


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