Carriers of the Seeds of Renewal: The Patchwork Remnant Chosen by Grace
/“So too at the present time there is a remnant (λεῖμμα), chosen by grace.” -Paul in Romans 11:5
Remnant Quilt made by Rev. Jeanne’s Grandma Ochla circa 1955
Christy and I are blessed to own several quilts our grandmothers made. A couple of them are truly magnificent works of art. But my favorite is a motley patchwork of different fabrics grandma called a “remnant quilt.” When she was stuffing it in a trash bag to take it to the secondhand store, I asked her if I could have it. She scoffed and said, “Why would you want that? I just threw that together with what was left over from scraps and remnants from other things I made.”
In the NRSVUE, the word “remnant” appears 91 times, and always refers to a small, faithful group of people that are patched together by circumstance and who persevere through challenges while remaining committed to discerning the movement of spirit and living into the values of the holy. In the biblical narrative, the remnant are always carriers of seeds of renewal after weathering challenges (like persecution, being conquered by empire, or being in exile) and are committed to planting those seeds and bringing them forward no matter what challenges they face.
It strikes me that our online beloved community is “the remnant” of United Church of Hayward, UCC. We have weathered some great challenges- the pandemic, having our plans to build low income senior housing fall through, discerning the call to do ministry online, and weathering one national crisis after another. But we have also experienced so much grace. And we have chosen to bring forward seeds of renewal, and our rootedness in the values of Jesus as we seek and embrace the journey- no matter what it throws at us- together in the 21st Century.
Our memories can be funny. And it is easy to forget how far we have come on our journey. Here is a very short review:
Pandemic (2020) When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, we started using Zoom and didn’t miss a Sunday Service. We began to recognize and consider that worship and community can look many different ways, and where the Spirit might be calling UCH.
Realignment (2021-2025) We survived the pandemic, sold our property and discerned a call to be a primarily online spiritual community (after only installing wi-fi in the church in 2016. We learned, we Zoomed, we live-streamed, we threw virtual spaghetti at the wall and noticed what stuck, and we started Updates from the Journey. We invested in Tech infrastructure and a Tech Coordinator. And we have discerned and struggled with what it means to do ministry in this way. It has not been without conflict and challenge. But we have stayed on the course, grown in outreach, and made a documented difference in the world. We now have folkx joining us on Zoom from Alberta (Canada), Arkansas, North Carolina, and Bristol (England), in addition to our core group from Northern California. And our online statistics are robust and growing. We are reaching people we could not have imagined reaching before.
Renewal (2026) We applied for and were awarded the CTS/Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant. We deeply benefited from this renewal time, and we have come back together realizing what a gift it has been and asking ourselves what we can bring forward. Here is a video summary of the congregation’s renewal leave experience if you haven’t seen it.
Restructure (2027-2028) The Council is going to spend the next several months actively exploring how to restructure the congregation so the tasks of making it run are easier and more life-giving. We are asking scary questions (we are getting more used to doing that). How can we use AI? Is the leadership structure we have had in the past necessary or do we need to jettison it because it doesn’t fit us anymore? How can we make the business aspect of running a non-profit worship community more fun and life-giving?
Revival (2028+): Let’s dream together.
As you well know by now, even a grace-filled scrappy remnant making a difference in the world requires the time, talent, and treasure of its members to do the great work we are doing. Attached you will find our 2026 Stewardship Pledge Sheet (Thank you Scout for constructing it). Your pledges give the Council a starting place as we decide how to use our resources as we seek and embrace the journey together.
Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part of our community’s restructuring process over the next couple of years and how you can best contribute to the day-to-day/week-to week operations of the United Church of Hayward, UCC. Please return this questionnaire by Sunday, November 22, when we will bless our responses during worship.
I am proud of how far we have come. And I am delighted to be Minister & Teacher of this beautiful patchwork remnant, full of love, tenacity, and grace. – Rev Jeanne
