Dear Members and Friends of Napa Methodist Church,
Here is a piece of trivia you will certainly not need to enter the kingdom of heaven, prepare your taxes, or get through a church committee meeting: The Guinness World Record for the jigsaw puzzle with the most pieces is an astonishing 551,232 pieces. It was assembled in 2011 by 1,600 students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and depicted a beautiful lotus flower. When completed, this puzzle of more than half a million pieces measured approximately 49 by 76 feet!
This little piece of trivia came my way because I have been thinking a lot about jigsaw puzzles ever since Jan Amoroso, Liz Marks, and Loie Whitmer brought a pastoral concern: there were members and friends of our church family whom we had not seen in a while. Even as we celebrate those who are faithfully here week after week, and the new folks who continue to walk through our doors, they were paying attention to those who were missing.
That is the thing about a jigsaw puzzle. No matter how many pieces may share the same color—perhaps all forming part of the same blue sky—every piece still has its own shape and its own particular place. And here is something else: every piece is also a connector. Each piece touches other pieces and helps hold part of the picture together. So when one piece is missing, it is not only that piece we miss. Something about the way the whole picture connects is changed.
Perhaps that is why Loie, Jan, and Liz noticed those who were missing. Each person brings something that cannot simply be replaced by someone else: a story, a friendship, a gift, a presence, a connection. For me, as the congregation’s “resident theologian”, their concern also points to the covenant we hold with one another. Whenever we celebrate baptism, confirmation, or church membership, the congregation makes a promise: “With God’s help we will surround these persons with a community of love and forgiveness … and we will pray for them.” In other words, we have promised to be responsible for one another. We promise not merely to worship beside one another, but to pray for one another, encourage one another, care for one another, and help one another grow in faith.
So noticing when someone is missing is not simply about taking attendance. It is about remembering our covenant. It is saying: You matter to this community. Your presence matters. Your absence is noticed. And the promises we made to care for one another still matter.
It has been great fun working with Liz, Loie, and Jan as they imagined a Sunday when we could intentionally reach out to people we have not seen for a while. And they did more than imagine it. They wrote letters and mailed an actual jigsaw-puzzle piece to nearly 60 people. The message was simple and sincere: We miss you. You are part of us. We are holding a place for you at the table.
Then, this past week, they made phone calls—which I thought was very brave. You see, we never really know why someone has stopped coming to church. Life gets busy. Illness and caregiving change everything. Families enter new seasons. People move. A beloved pastor moves away. And sometimes people step away because they have been hurt by the church—by its theology, its decisions, or relationships within the community. A phone call can touch places of joy, but it can also awaken hurt. That is why reaching out requires both courage and grace, and it is also why every return is held with tenderness. We do not assume. We do not interrogate. We simply make room, open the door, and say: We are glad you are here.
And grace is exactly what Jan, Loie and Liz report they encountered. There was only one little adventure along the way. One of them called a member who happened to be traveling somewhere in Europe. Because of the time difference, the phone rang in the middle of the night! The husband who answered was gracious—although perhaps not exactly delighted to receive a church call at that hour. Apparently, some of our jigsaw-puzzle pieces are not only missing—they are international!
On Reunion Sunday, the many ministries of our congregation will showcase what they are doing so that longtime members, returning members, newcomers, and those who are simply curious can discover places to connect, serve, learn, grow, and belong. I am especially grateful to the Transformation Team, who will be available to share information and answer questions about the Workforce Building Project—a ministry many of us are excited about and continue to hold in prayer without ceasing.
And if you are anything like me, even when you know you belong, every now and again you may still wonder, Do I really have a place here? Reunion Sunday rings a resounding YES! There is a place that only you can fill—a place for the shape of your story, your gifts, your questions, your joys, and even your struggles. You do not have to become someone else in order to belong. You bring your piece of the picture. Because the truth is, without you, the jigsaw puzzle that is Napa United Methodist Church is not quite complete.
I am excited about Sunday! Wear your name tag, visit the different ministry stations, discover something new—and when you see Loie, Jan, and Liz, be sure to give them a well-deserved high five.
See you at the Reunion!
Love, Grace
