Four years after my birth, Pete Seeger wrote a folk tune that climbed the charts until it became number 1 in December of 1965. The lyrics quote a large portion of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. If you know the tune, sing along.
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven
To everything (Turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under heaven
During this time of year, there are many transitions and changes – turn, turn, turn.
Here are four examples.
- This Sunday, we will recognize our high school graduates during worship. We will also observe communion. I am offering a new tradition this year as each graduate will be served The Lord’s Supper individually at the Lord’s Table by Rev. Haley Blackwell and me. They will be served a glass communion cup which they can take with them as a memento of this service. We will sing Andre Lash’s arrangement of ‘May the Road Rise to Meet You,’ and conclude worship by joining hands across the aisles while singing ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’ These graduates remind us of the turnings of life’s seasons.
- In recent days, we have learned of several university commencements. Congratulations to all the college graduates. This is a special experience for this cohort because they graduated High School during the COVID-19 pandemic and could not experience commencements. We share the joy of these students. We want to express special congratulations to Dr. Annie Peacock who finished medical school and is now moving to Atlanta, GA to fulfill her residency at Emory Medical Center. We also salute Brickson Sam, Junior who finished East Carolina University cum laude and just learned he has been accepted to Medical School at Morehouse University in Atlanta. Turn, turn, turn.
- My wife, Paula retires this week as Executive Director of Baby Bundles. I am proud of her accomplishments leading this organization and her successes in every leadership role she has fulfilled. Through the years, she has re-invented her career each time we have relocated to offer ministry. She has supported me consistently and deserves to retire a year earlier than me. Turn, turn, turn.
- This Sunday, our Church Council will take first steps transforming CONVERGE conversations and Leadership Fair commitments into a plan of action for the next few years. You have significant opportunities to pursue. These efforts will be reported this autumn as we begin a new church year. There is a season, turn, turn, turn, And a time to every purpose under heaven.
Here we go – turn, turn, turn.
