Editor’s note: While Pastor Eilidh is on renewal leave, Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett will write our blog. Laura is a deacon who has served in music ministry in local churches and has also led workshops on congregational song, global praise, and worship design in a variety of settings. She is an internationally recognized expert on music and worship. She is the immediate past national president of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music & Worship Arts, and served the 2016 General Conference as the director of music and worship. She is the Conference Secretary for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.
One of the things I love most about working with Eilidh is the fundamental knowledge that we each completely trust
Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett leading opening worship at General Conference 2016
one another. I know without a doubt that Eilidh will always have my back, and I’m quite sure she knows she can always count on me to do whatever she might need. Case in point: Eilidh is actually letting me write her blog every week while she’s on renewal leave!
Last week at annual conference (the big yearly United Methodist meeting for clergy and elected lay folks), our closing worship included communion that Eilidh and I got to lead together. In the midst of the stress of a myriad of details and responsibilities that each of us had juggled during the conference, it was a tremendous gift to take on this final leadership role together, resting in the blessed reality that each of us could absolutely rely on the other—and even have fun in the process! Eilidh’s mom, Jane (whom I’ve known longer than I’ve known Eilidh!) told me after the service that it’s obvious in watching the two of us that there is a deep trust and respect that binds us together. What a great thing to hear!
Rev. Eilidh Lowery and Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett
I believe this is a significant part of what draws me to the Sellwood Faith Community. It doesn’t take long to see what’s really obvious: the people here trust each other. We know that we have each other’s back. When we’re in need, there is always someone in the community that we can count on. That doesn’t mean we always agree with each other, or even that we don’t sometimes get on each other’s nerves. But we know that we can voice disagreement—and do it while continuing to listen to each other with respect. We accept each other’s quirks (even the annoying ones!) because we genuinely care about this community. And Eilidh trusts us enough to know that she can take a much-needed renewal leave, and that while she’s gone all the rest of us will carry on, trusting each other, trusting God, and working together to do the ministry that we are all called to do.
Rev. Laura
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