Flittering in Worship
If you have been in worship you will have noticed the presence of colorful butterflies hanging from the celling and perched on the pulpit. The butterfly is not only beautiful but is symbolic of change and transformation. According to Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things by Lafcadio Hearn (1) a butterfly was seen in Japan as the personification of a person's soul; whether they be living, dying, or already dead. One Japanese superstition says that if a butterfly enters your guestroom and perches behind the bamboo screen, the person whom you most love is coming to see you. The ancient Greek word for "butterfly" is ψυχή ), which
primarily means "soul" or "mind" (2) Along with the Japanese and the Ancient Greeks, Christians also use the life cycle of the butterfly to symbolize God’s transformative work and resurrection. Hatching from the egg as a larva or caterpillar, the insect grows and eats until it reaches the chrysalis stage . During the chrysalis, a shell forms around the caterpillar, protecting the insect as it undergoes a metamorphosis into a beautifully colored butterfly. Of course we are in the midst of change and metamorphosis as we continue to seek a new installed pastor. The good news is that while there has been some apprehension about the process I have not witnessed this congregation as having a stomach full of butt erflies. Instead elders are working on vision, deacons are providing pastoral care and members are hard at work in various ministries ...both locally and around the world. Over the next few weeks we will continue to talk about the history of the church and how this community of faith has transformed the lives of so many people. Worship will focus on how faith has the power to transform even the ugliest parts of our lives. I encourage you to reflect on how Christ and the community of faith have bee n a part of your Christian life cycle. Whether you are in the caterpillar stage of learning more about your faith or you have already spread your wings your story can be an inspiration to others.

As we worship together I pray the butterflies will encourage you to ponder and pray not only about change but also about how we as a community of faith can care for those in need.

Rev. Whitney Dempsey

1 Hearn, Lafcadio(1904). Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Thing. Dover Publications, Inc.ISBN 0.486.21901.1
2 Hutchins, M., Arthur V. Evans, Rosser W. Garrison and Neil Schlager (Eds)(2003) Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd edition.Volume 3, Insects, Farm.ington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2003.