…cease striving and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Friends,
Summer has a way of changing our pace. The days are longer, the kids are out of school, gardens are growing, vacations are planned. Many of us find ourselves spending more time outdoors.
Summer is a season that invites us to slow down and notice God’s presence in the beauty of creation.
In the busyness of life you may find yourselves not attending church, this does not mean we stop attending to our faith. Summer is the best time to strengthen our connection with God. Jesus would withdraw from the demands of his ministry and go off and be alone with God, He reminds us that rest is not a luxury – it is a gift from God; it is a commandment.
It does not matter if your vacation includes travel, or if you will be spending time in your own back yard. I encourage you, no matter where you are to look for the holy moments that surround you. I encourage you to gaze at God’s beauty, to listen to the birds, to share a meal with neighbors, read a favorite Psalm while sitting on the porch or on the beach. God’s love is not confined to the walls of a church; God’s love meets us where we are.
As many of you are off with travel or rest, the ministry of our church continues. We still hold worship every Sunday (in our air-conditioned sanctuary); our missions still look to serve the community even when we slow down for the summer.
If you will be away, please know that you will be missed, but we will be gathered again before we know it. The summer days may be long, but I think summer feels like the shortest season of the year.
I hope you find time to celebrate the birth of our country with festivities and celebrations commemorating our 250th year.
Happy Birthday America!!!
Be Safe,
Pastor Val