Greetings in the name of Jesus! What a blast I have had over the past few weeks meeting with more than 50 of you. Although we journey together, each of us is on our own journey with God and each journey is unique. I was truly blessed by everyone who opened up and shared, sometimes very personal facts, about your life. And after hearing your stories, I am more confident than ever that
God has been, is and will continue to be at work in our world and in our lives!!!! There are a few others who have indicated a desire to meet and I am working on getting another time set up soon.
The next step in our transition is for me to hear the stories about Aldersgate UMC. See page 9 for information about our history event. I truly hope that many of you can and will attend. I know from experience these events can be a great time of remembering (or learning about) what has happened in the past (both celebrations and challenges). And most importantly, this is a great opportunity to celebrate and honor God’s presence in the history of our church.
While we can celebrate what God has done in the past and the joy we have
experienced as we have begun being in ministry together, we do not know what the future holds. There are challenges we face as a church, but challenges are an opportunity to trust God and to seek God’s will. There is a prayer that has become one of my favorites. Thomas Merton was baptized at the age of 23
and became a trappiest Monk. His writings and thoughts have had a profound
influence on many Christians – especially his spiritual autobiography, The Seven Story Mountain. Many have found this Merton prayer meaningful, especially during times of uncertainty and so I share it with you. Peace and be well!
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.
from Thoughts in Solitude, Copyright © 1956, 1958 by The Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani
Peace,
Pastor Wilson