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| Along the Way 5-21-2010 |
 Last Tuesday 1,000 school children gathered on Calhoun Square for their traditional Massie School May Day celebration. I wish you could have seen these well behaved children eagerly perform various traditional ethnic dances on the green grass beneath the spreading moss-draped oaks. The weather was glorious, the adults’ speeches were appropriately brief and the festivities were joyful. Members of our church served lemonade and cookies to these grateful, enthusiastic children.Our neighbor Massie School opened on Calhoun Square in 1856 with 120 students. Twelve years later our congregation was established on this square which means church and school have been good neighbors now for 142 years. Serving cookies to Savannah school children these last 3 years is only the latest chapter of a long and fruitful shared history. Last Tuesday’s celebration included a ceremonial ringing of the Massie School bell. As those clear notes wafted across Calhoun Square I thought of our own church bell, which we ring far, far too seldom. We ought to ring it weekly, don’t you think? Our Chatham County schools, both public and private, need our prayers and our support these days. These are wrenching days for all who teach or who serve in school administration. I am glad we could give cookies; let’s also continue to be supportive of the education of our children in every way possible. Society would be much stronger if people would heed church bell and school bell. These two institutions have enormous influence for good in our city, state and world. To the extent our society ignores or shrugs its shoulder at church and school will be the extent to which our society deteriorates. Yes, church and school face many, many challenges. We are not perfect institutions. Sometimes we have been too rigid, too inflexible. Sometimes we have feared change, have been too timid. But as we submit ourselves to the amazing, miraculous work of the Spirit, we can be dramatically changed, both as individuals and as institutions. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Are you open to the Spirit? Are you willing to be led by the Spirit? That Spirit is continuing to transform our church; it can and will transform all who are open to bold and holy change. I’ll see you in worship, either at 8:45 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Creede Hinshaw |
