This Sunday at Peace

A Note from Holly

Peace Church wouldn’t be here without Eli and Alex. I’m quite certain that’s true.

When I felt called to start a new church in October of 2011, they were the first two people I went to, before I even approached the UCC Conference Minister for permission and blessing.

They were all in. 1000%.

My next stop was Ruth Riggs who thankfully stepped in as our administrator. Not long after, others showed up to volunteer—like Paula DeSeure (now Lafferty)— who created a program for our children and youth.

Without Eli and Alex, there would have been no “front door,” no rich, vibrant worship service to draw people in and nourish their souls.

We just celebrated our 15th Christmas Eve at Peace and our 15th Easter is just around the corner; that’s a lot of “Joy to the World” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” But, in between there have been all the holy, heart-breaking, feet-stomping ordinary times that we all needed a sound track to make sense of.

The sudden death of Steve Dickerson; the why-can’t-someone-stop-this loss of Susan and Kay and Micah. So many others. And so many rich funny glorious moments and soul shaking ones, too—from the insurrection to ICE. Moments when Eli and Alex have kept us going with gifts from the Boss to Brandi Carlile to Tracy Chapman. Time and again, through spirituals, camp songs and old standard hymns we have been reminded that God’s got us and that “we will get through this together.”

I have said so many times that I would not have made it without Eli and Alex. I know for certain that’s true.

Thanks be to God.

Let’s celebrate this Sunday with songs and reflections from these two treasures.

Holly