Bear witness to the love of God in this world, so that those to whom love is a stranger will find in you generous friends.
Dear Friends,
I have always been fond of this blessing. Traditionally, it is frequently offered as a word of dismissal in our United Methodist wedding liturgy. I think it serves well for other occasions, too–wherever there is a covenant to be kept in Christ.
This week, the love of God is on display through the dedication of so many in this congregation and community.
On Sunday, I found generous friends in worship, and later in the fellowship hall, helping to unload and pack food boxes. On Monday, I saw them at the men’s small group, the women’s Bible study, and at the Alabama West-Florida Conference Core team meeting.
On Tuesday, I saw them at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast downtown, at the APUMC Preschool Balloon parade, then the Dumas Wesley Executive Board meeting, then loading more food boxes for transport in the Fellowship hall, and then the church’s Finance Committee meeting later that evening.
On Wednesday, they were back at Dumas Wesley unloading and setting up for distribution and then again at the Wednesday Night Bible Study discussing the parables of Jesus.
Today I expect to see more generous friends at the AWF Board of Ordained Ministry meeting at Blue Lake (near Andalusia). Lord knows they will be back at Dumas Wesley today, too, offering our all to our neighbors with glad and generous hearts.
Granted, none of us can keep up this pace by ourselves. Nor is anyone expected to be in a Kingdom so defined by the grace of God. Still, in times of joy and strength, there is nothing better than bearing witness to the love of God in the world. We all have a part to play. Whenever and wherever you share this Love, you will find that you are a part of it, whether you realized it or not.
Generous friends. Those are the best kind!
This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday in the Christian year. As we grow in our understanding of how the reign of God is taking shape in our lives, we have much to celebrate.
This Sunday, we will also be invited to participate in an additional offering that is initiated by our Bishop Jonathon Holston. I appreciate his leadership in the area, as this offering is designed to support not only our local concern, but also assist with those underserved areas of our Annual Conference that remain without assistance. More details about this movement can be found here:
https://www.awfumc.org/newsdetail/abundant-table-offering-a-matthew-25-response-19437415
I am so proud to be the Senior Pastor of this great church. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Let us greet each stranger as generous friends!
Hi-dee-hi-dee-hi!
Darren