Faith Connections

HOMEMAKING

Ashley Crowder Stanley, Pastor

The people next door to a family member’s coastal river house were obviously aggravated that an osprey couple had started building their nest on top of their motor boat’s canvas cover. A few days before the neighbors arrived, I had watched the fascinating birds haul limb after limb through the air, swooping and gliding until they could make a perfect landing on the cover. The nest was taking shape in a rather miraculous way. But, with each additional stick, I got more stressed: what would happen when the boat’s owner turned up?

Within an hour of the neighbor’s arrival, he began to rake the sticks off of the canvas. Plop, down into the river they went with a shake of his head in frustration. I’m sure he knew that state law says that “osprey nests can be removed without a permit …as long as there are no eggs or young in the nest.” The neighbor needed to work quickly before there were eggs and so, he was resolute to undo the masterpiece, pronto.

Within an hour, the ospreys were back and they started over: limb, twig, limb. Soon, the neighbor came out with the rake again: scrape, plop, head shake. And then, for the third time in the same day, the birds returned, determined, their desperation to make a home in time to start their family almost heartbreaking.

Overnight, the neighbor got creative: under the shelter of darkness, he placed a large roll of chicken wire and held it down securely by a 2x4. There! Even though I was pulling for the ospreys, I had to admit to a certain amount of admiration for the neighbor’s non-violent “solution.” When the neighbor backed out of his driveway to return to his other home in the city, I imagined he was brushing his hands together, saying “that’s that!”

Not so much. At dawn the next day (see picture abpve), I noticed that there were sticks laying alongside the chicken wire, the makings of a new nest. And perched there, was the mama osprey, awaiting her breakfast which was efficiently provided to her with impressive fly-by service. This drama of their homemaking continued for the week, resulting in an ever-growing, magnificent nest, watched over by an osprey couple (did you know they mate for life?) whom we affectionately named “Oscar” and “Olivia.” I am glad I won’t be there to witness what happens when the neighbor returns in a few weeks.

For all “creatures great and small,” there is a potent internal force to make a home, to create a nest that fits us, smells like us, is familiar to us and is big enough to hold those we love. Mention the word “home,” and humans often get misty eyed or become dreamy, wistfully thinking of the home they grew up in or a favorite they left behind. For some, the word “home” connects them to the promise of an eternal place, promised by their faith. Try to paint a picture of “home” and I believe you’d be hard pressed to come up with one more inspirational than an osprey nest.

Along with a physical home, humans long for and need a spiritual home, a God-meeting place where our souls can find nurture, where we can feel safe to be honest about who we are, a place to turn when we need help, a place where we can rest in the arms of God. It is more than a building; it is essentially a beloved community that worships, prays and serves together.

My new spiritual home is Wellspring Congregation; it is a home I’ve longed for and as I am discovering, many feel the same way. From the beginning of the dream that blossomed into this grace-filled new faith community, God called us to joyfully find ways to say :”you are God’s beloved child, you belong here, the world needs you, Jesus loves you always.”

Wellspring Congregation is and will be a safe, worshipful, meaningful, Jesus-centered, grace-giving, spiritual home for all who long for a strong, creative and hope-filled “nest” for their soul. No chicken wire or 2x4’s allowed!

It was hard to leave Oscar and Olivia behind. Their presence during the week had given me a holy vision: they were created to do everything possible, to overcome great obstacles, to try and try again, so that whoever shows up will find a lovely place of welcome.

I look in the rearview mirror as we drive away, I smile to myself: Olivia is sitting on top of the chicken wire, in her nest, fat and singing. It’s not long now.

SPREADING THE LIGHT AT WELLSPRING

Ashley Crowder Stanley, Pastor

“I bring you great news of great joy” were the words the angel said to the shepherds when they announced the birth of Jesus. These are the words that I want to “borrow” this morning as I write to share several good news stories that will have a significant impact for the good in our community!

First of all, Wellspring has a new food pantry that has been installed at the front of our building at 3578 Sweeten Creek Road in Arden. Envisioned and built by Kelly Galatioto and her family, The Blessing Box is prominently placed so that people can take and donate food and everyday items and will be an ongoing ministry of our church. The door to the Blessing Box has these words etched in it:

Take what you need

Bring what you can

Above all

Be Blessed

Kelly felt called to make this ministry happen. Here is what she wrote to me in describing her vision:

"I have been thinking of a pop up food pantry since retirement started in March…I can't imagine our children going hungry. As we know they do everyday. I pray that our blessing box can help our church neighborhood. Also having a box where it doesn't need to have anyone to be there will be helpful. I think it is a mission where we can all help when we can ! I can go with my grandkiddos and have them help. With social distancing we can keep everyone safe and still help, offering compassion for those who need it. I pray our church family will enjoy shopping for our box knowing that we brought smiles! Thank you to the Wellspring family for the warm embrace of the vision!"

So, when you are at the grocery store, pick up a few items, drop by the church and place them in the Blessing Box so that others might be helped. AND, please spread the word. I will be posting a brief announcement about it on our Facebook page today so please share that. Thank you, Kelly and family, for making this vision a reality!

The second piece of Good News of Great Joy is that our Be The Light Offering has been joyfully successful! If you haven’t already, please take a moment to donate to this outreach offering to benefit The Sharing House in Brevard and Homeward Bound in Asheville, both non-profits who help the folks in our community with housing, clothing, food and hope. The entire offering will be divided equally between these two ministries.

Thank your your generosity and joining us in our deep commitment to serve our neighbors, especially during these hard times.

Rev. Ashley Crowder Stanley

BE THE LIGHT DURING ADVENT

Wellspring Supporting Sharing House and Homeward Bound

Ashley Crowder Stanley, Pastor

October 14, 2020

Dear Friends,
Wellspring Congregation invites you to Be the Light in our community during this Advent season. Join us in our deep commitment to serve our neighbors, especially during these hard times.

We have chosen two ministries to support:

Sharing House in Brevard, NC. Sharing House is a source of compassion and crisis assistance for low-income (up to 200% above poverty line) neighbors in Transylvania County. Food and fresh produce, gently-used clothes, rent and utility assistance, household goods, camping equipment, hot showers, a safe place to share stories of struggle are offered. The Sharing House seeks to make real the incarnational love of God to all who come through their doors, whether as someone seeking assistance or as a volunteer. Instead of viewing their ministry as "to the poor,” they are intentionally changing their language and practice to being in ministry "for all.”

Homeward Bound of Asheville, NC. Homeward Bound proudly uses the best practice Housing First model to end homelessness in the Asheville community. It prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness. This approach is guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to anything less critical such as getting a job, budgeting properly or attending to substance abuse issues. Homeward Bound has helped almost 2, 200 people move out of homelessness and of that number, 89% have moved into their own homes and not returned to homelessness.

During December, you can contribute to the Wellspring Be the Light Offering. We will share the offering 50/50 with these two faithful ministries that spread light and hope to so many in our community.
Here’s how to give:
1. Go to wellspringcongregation.org and click on “GIVING.”
2. Scroll down and select “GIVE ONLINE.”
3. Then, click on the arrow beside the word “General” and choose “BE THE LIGHT” and make your donation.
4. If you would rather write a check, please make it out to “Wellspring Congregation
Be the Light” and mail it to: Wellspring Congregation, PO Box 1354, Arden, NC 28704.

We hope you will stay in touch with Wellspring during this season and be a part of the many ways we will worship, study and serve together.

Being the Light together,

Ashley Crowder Stanley

Pastor, Wellspring Congregation

and the Wellspring Leadership Team

A Letter to the Wellspring Congregation Family

Ashley Crowder Stanley, Pastor

October 14, 2020

Dear friends,

Grace and peace to each of you during these challenging days. You are in my prayers each day even though I have not met many of you “in person.” Yet, I already feel the bond between us and look so forward to the time we can safely and non-anxiously be together. I am writing to share some thoughts about Wellspring and update you on our plans for the next few months.

Over a year ago, Wellspring Congregation was started to be an inclusive United Methodist congregation in the Asheville area. Many of you attended information sessions and shared your hopes for a safe, welcoming place to worship and serve. We heard you and enthusiastically began to form a leadership team, plans programs, secure and renovate a building and do fundraising. There was such enthusiastic momentum!

Our opening date was scheduled to be April 5th, 2020-Palm Sunday-and we were beyond excited to have our first, in-person, worship service on that day! Our leadership team, along with countless others, invested significant time and resources to be ready to offer warm hospitality .

And then, COVID-19 happened…and it is still happening. Of course, the most tragic and pressing concern we share are for the 217,000 people who have lost their lives to this virus as well as for the grieving family members left behind. It is difficult to conceptualize the seismic impact this virus has caused on our world and its citizenry. In order to do our part to stop the spread, we chose to indefinitely postpone the opening of our building and instead, move our worship and small group offerings online.

Since April, we have offered a worship service each week which features music, prayer and a sermon. Several times a month, I film a children’s message so that the children in our Wellspring family can feel connected and spiritually fed. As with every church I’ve served, I find that the adults like the children’s messages as much as the kids do!

Additionally, we offer a weekly “Sermon Talk Back” zoom gathering during which participants can explore ideas and questions raised in that week’s sermon. And, we have done a few, small scale mission projects. We have also become a full member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, “an organization seeking the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both the policy and practices of United Methodist Church.”

What is on the horizon for Wellspring over the next few months? Here are a few highlights:

First of all, we will continue to worship online each week. Because our “sanctuary” space is not large, we do not feel safe having more than a handful of people inside at the same time. We believe this is the most faithful, responsible approach for now. Our services can be found on our website and our Facebook page and are archived from week to week.

On Sunday, October 25th at 9am, there will be a zoom information session for people who are interested in joining Wellspring. The zoom invitation will be sent out closer to the date. Please join in on an informative conversation about what membership in Wellspring means and how to make it happen! Let me know if you’d like more information about this opportunity.

Sunday, November 1st is All Saints Sunday. During our worship service, we will light candles for those people near and dear to us who have passed away during the last year as we say their names. If you have lost a family member or a friend during the last year and would like to have a candle lit in their memory on November 1st, please send me an email with their name (ashley@wellspringcongregation.org). Please send me this information no later than OCTOBER 25th. You are also encouraged to have a candle with you at home which you can light as you watch the worship service.

Advent Study: during December, we will offer an Advent study over zoom. This will help us prepare our hearts for Christmas and hopefully give us a good opportunity to meet one another. Stay tuned for more information!

\Outdoor Christmas Candlelight Service: we hope to have a beautiful outdoor candlelight and carol service during the week before Christmas unless new COVID restrictions take effect before then. We will be confirming the place and date soon!

Wellspring is alive and growing! We appreciate your prayers, virtual presence, financial contributions and ideas! Let me know how I can pray for you! And, if you have ideas that could enrich and deepen our ministry, please let me know.

May God bless you and hold you close, always.

Ashley Crowder Stanley

Pastor, Wellspring Congregation

Keep Me Posted