By Bob Tussing, Pastor
Dublin Community UCC

There is an old Chassid story told by Jack Kornfield & Christina Feldman.

The disciples of an old Rabbi were arguing about the true path to God. One said that the path was built on effort and energy. "You must give yourself totally and fully with all your effort to follow the way of the Law." The second disciple disagreed. "It is not effort at all. It is pure surrender…let go of all things."

As they could not agree on who was right, they went to see the master. The first disciple gave his argument of putting forth an effort…and the master said, "You’re right."

The second disciple was quite upset and responded with his theory of pure surrender…and the master said, "You’re right."

A third student who was sitting there said, "But master, they can’t both be right," and the master smiled and said, "You’re right too!"

This wise story comes to my mind when I consider the recent Ohio Conference Annual Gathering. To me, the Gathering is such a mixture of all things that it is hard to describe; and if one does so, they will be contradicted by someone else.

I enjoy these gatherings for no other reason than they take me out of the everyday. Sunday night’s opening worship service was a jazz liturgy. It’s not as outrageous as it sounds at first.

The instruments with which we praised God were a saxophone, organ, bass, percussion and the rich Gospel-inspired voice of the songstress. To intersperse jazz, traditional and contemporary songs and beats is a whole ‘nother way to enter into worship.

The Psalms say that we should praise God with the trumpet, tambourine, harp and lyre, strings and cymbals, but it says nothing about using an organ, as most churches do. So, why not use tenor sax and drums? THAT was what the Annual Gathering was all about.

The next afternoon we had a business meeting. It was pretty dry. It dealt with resolutions on finance and discussions of dollars and the By-Laws. Nothing too thrilling, though the leadership of the meeting was inspired and agile, as all questions brought forth were considered and given full public discussion.

There is no way to enliven such meetings, yet they are important. Since I am on the Conference Board of Directors, which spends long hours discussing such things, I am pleased to see our groundwork offered to the entire Ohio Conference.

The exciting work of the church is built on consensus and on forward thinking plans which arise from the business side of the meetings. THAT is what the Annual Gathering was all about.

During evening worship we experienced the stirring preaching of a UCC minister from a large church in Georgia. It was preaching at its most creative, biblical and finest. Few of us can preach like this preacher…and no one could hear him without being moved and shaken and uplifted.

The richness of the words of the Bible were given to us in a large worship setting there in the auditorium. But, rather than frustrate me, because I know I could never approach this preacher’s talent and inspiration, I was uplifted, realizing that the Word of God is indeed exciting and baffling.

I like to be baffled by God because I am so often baffled by everything else in life. This preacher "spoke" to me. THAT is what the Annual Gathering was all about.

There was more, too. There was the fellowship of other ministers, colleagues and UCC friends from across the state and the years. There was the wise counsel and determination of our Conference Minster and Association Ministers. There was a clergy workshop over several sessions, which was one of the best I have attended.

If you came Sunday night you experienced the jazz worship…the inspired preaching…you would say THAT was the focus of the meeting.

If you came only on Monday afternoon, you would have experienced the business portion…you would say THAT was the focus of the meeting.

If you stayed for it all…you experienced the richness of shared worship, fellowship and planning…you would say THAT was the focus of the meeting.