Whisper and Roar by Pastor Welty

In 2008 we began to negotiate on the property in Southbury where we thought we would build our building - the corner of Strongtown and Judd roads.  It was an involved process that required many months, many meetings, many emails - and did I mention many meetings? 

 If memory serves, and sometimes it does...the process started out with a lengthy contract negotiation.  We had to go over the contract with a fine toothed comb.  Our attorney helped us through that arduous process.  Then we had to apply to the town's Planning Commission to get their approval to build on the property.  That required the development of a site plan and architectural drawings as well as the approval of the town's Inland Wetland Commission.   Several meetings with those town commissions were required.  Finally we got our approval.

 While all that was going on we were also working on getting our financing through the Alliance Development Fund who strongly urged us to conduct a Capital Campaign to raise money for the purchase.  More meetings - so many meetings.  Then we held a congregational meeting to get the church's approval for the purchase.  Thankfully the congregation approved. 

 This was a lengthy, difficult and exciting process.  It felt like it was building to a huge crescendo, and our closing was scheduled for July 16, 2009.   During the afternoon of July 16, I was anxious to hear news, so I called our attorney to see how things were going.  His secretary answered the phone and when I asked what the status was she said. "Oh yeah, it's yours."  After months and months of meetings and hard work, that was all we got?  "Oh yeah, it's yours."  Where was the fan fare?  the celebration?  Where was the (non-alcoholic) champagne?  It all felt very anti-climactic.  When I spoke to the previous owner about it he, a property developer with tons of experience, said:  "These things often start with a roar and end with a whisper."

 Those words "roar and whisper" came back to mind as I started planning for our Advent series. Jesus first advent was a whisper, a baby born in obscurity, but his second advent will be a roar as scripture points out.  We're going to spend some time this year unpacking those ideas. I hope it will be a blessing and a challenge to us.