Dear Friends,

This time of the year, I often think back to the familiar “camp songs” that I first learned at Blue Lake over multiple summers that I spent there during my high school years. 

Do you know this one?

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice, for He has made me glad-ah-ah

He has made me glad, oh, He has made me glad
I will rejoice, for He has made me glad
He has made me glad, oh, He has made me glad
I will rejoice, for He has made me glad

I’ll be honest–there have been plenty of times in my life when I was just not in the mood to sing this song! Depending on what else I may have been going through at the moment, it seemed way too ‘happy-clappy’ for me. 

Especially as an angst-ridden teenager, it was obvious that whoever picked out these songs for service in the Blue Lake chapel obviously did not know what I was going through. Clearly, they did not get it (and I certainly was not inclined to explain it to them)!

It took me a while to realize that such efforts at worship planning are not always about me. 

I later discovered that there was a Word there that I needed, one that had the power to transcend my personal feelings or circumstances. That Word–which is for you and me, but not only for you and me–was spoken clearly through Peter’s initial sermon on the day of Pentecost: You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence (Acts 2:28).

Has anyone ever told you that you are ‘full of it’? I can assure you that I have heard that spoken to me MANY times! What do you suppose they meant by that? 

Over the years of life and ministry, I am convinced that we are all full of something. Would you agree? There are any number of colorful possibilities on which I could elaborate here, but I think you get the idea. On any given day, we are all full of something. 

The Bible often describes the human condition in categories of the Spirit and the flesh, the good and the bad, the righteous and the unrighteous, the truth and the lies. Generally, these tendencies are consistent within us, if not chronic. Jesus said that a tree would ultimately be known not by its outward appearance, but by its fruit (Matt. 12:33). The Lord said the same thing to Samuel in his search for a leader (1 Samuel 16:7). In the end, the Lord weighs the heart (Prov. 21:2). As it is, a lot depends on the depth of the root and the fertilizer that surrounds it. 

In this earthly life, we may not get to choose where we are planted, or the conditions of sun, snow, wind or rain that bear upon us. But regardless, when we choose to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it makes us new. There is fruit in that Spirit (Gal. 5:22-26).

Did you wake up glad this morning? Maybe not. Chances are, our hearts, minds and bodies may be filled with all sorts of trouble, grief or pain. If we are to be glad, it may not come naturally to us. God will have to make it so.

Indeed, gladness is God’s doing; so how might we be ready to receive?   

I believe that as our faith in the Holy Spirit deepens, so does our commitment to create the conditions for more people to discover the wisdom and blessings of God. 

Even in seasons of grief, I believe that our faith in Jesus deepens with the experience of walking with Him. With every ‘red letter’ that is embodied by his followers, we are renewed, nourished, and motivated to persevere, to keep going no matter what. When we are intentional in our gathering to bear each other’s burdens, we also help to create space for the mending of hearts through the hospitality of Christ. 

Can you imagine?

Lastly, as we think about ways to cultivate leadership within our own church family, we are inclined to structure our community so as to sponsor practices that evoke the Spirit’s generosity, creativity and kindness that is at work within us.

This Sunday, we are going to try a new wrinkle in our order of worship for our 9:00 Ascension service. Instead of presenting our offerings as part of the communion liturgy on the tables by the altar, we are going to invite and instruct our children to help pass the plate for our morning worship as a part of our children’s lesson. Our purpose for doing so is to reimagine our gladness in the presence of the Lord, and to thereby model our response in worship as an example for the coming generation of believers at APUMC. 

I realize that many customarily give online or at other occasions other than worship. Thank you. For those who are present, however, I invite you to keep a bit of loose cash or check on hand as a part of our teaching moment. Honestly, I am eager to witness the interaction that will take place through this experiment. 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).   

For our heart is glad in him, because we trust his holy name (Psalm 33:21).

I was glad when they said to me, ‘let us go to the house of the Lord!’ (Psalm 122:1)

I’ll be glad to see you there!

Darren