One of the things I enjoy most in life is the aroma of coffee filling the house in the morning. Some people may be more devoted to British tea, but I am perfectly happy letting myself be surrounded by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee first thing in the day. That Sunday, however, those familiar notes filled the house a little earlier than usual.
I was busy bringing together all the ingredients for a recipe passed down to me by my grandmother, preparing the dish I wanted to share with my siblings after worship. Almost two hours before the service was scheduled to begin, a traditional Colombian arroz con pollo was already warm and ready to be enjoyed.
There I was, taking the first sip from my cup, admiring all the colors inside the pot on the stove, and already imagining the faces of those who would taste it later, when a message suddenly interrupted everything: Flash Flood Warning. Nothing is perfect in life!
That blessed notification had arrived right in the middle of a morning filled with excitement and expectation. Then, one after another, messages began appearing on my phone asking the inevitable question: What are we going to do? The situation was particularly complicated because the early coffee, my grandmother’s recipe, and all the excitement of that Sunday morning were connected to our Joint Worship Service between Crosswicks and Groveville United Methodist Churches, scheduled to begin only a couple of hours later. And now the whole thing was being threatened by a storm and possible flooding.
You have got to be kidding me! This very same joint service, hosted at Crosswicks, had already been canceled during the previous winter after snowstorms made travel unsafe. At some point I had thought, “Well, at least once winter is over, nothing will make us cancel again.” And yet there we were, facing another wonderfully ridiculous meteorological threat. The life and its sense of humor!
A decision had to be made. We certainly did not want anyone to put themselves at risk. At the same time, we wanted to continue with worship if it could be done safely. Perhaps it was because of the love we have for one another. Perhaps it was our love for God and our commitment to worshiping together. Or perhaps it was because dozens of pots, just like mine, were already sitting impatiently on stoves throughout the community, ready to bring joy and comfort to our potluck table!
Whatever the reason, the morning message went out: “If you have concerns about your safety, please stay home and join us online. But if you feel comfortable coming, we will be waiting for you in the sanctuary.” And sometimes actions speak louder than words.
Despite the weather, we had a wonderful attendance. We worshiped together, rejoiced, shared the Lord’s Table, prayed, sang, laughed, and experienced a deeply inspiring time as two congregations worshiping as one community. And yes, somehow all those pots made their way from their respective kitchens to the church!
After worship, we gathered around the tables and enjoyed the many dishes prepared with so much generosity and affection. The arroz con pollo finally fulfilled its destiny, too. Thanks be to God!
What a beautiful time we shared. I am deeply grateful to God and to everyone who joined us, to all those who worked behind the scenes to make the day as warm and joyful as it was, to everyone who brought food to share, and also to those who wisely chose to remain home and worship with us online.
A flash flood warning may have interrupted our plans that morning, but it could not interrupt the fellowship that brought us together. And somehow, between the coffee, the storm, the Lord’s Table, and a ridiculous amount of delicious food, grace found its way to the table once again.
Warmly,
Rev. David Gaitan
