Summer is a great time for slowing down and spending quality time together. Spending time in fellowship is at the heart of what it means to be a church family. We remember that the early Christians "continuously devoted themselves to fellowship" (Acts 2:42). The Greek word for "fellowship" is koinonia, which means "to have in common" or "to share." Union Family, we share in the rich blessing of knowing Jesus and each other. Spending time in fellowship as a family of faith reminds us that we don’t walk the journey alone. God has given us the gift of each other!
We have a special opportunity to spend some time in fellowship together this weekend. I hope you will drop by our house on Saturday, July 16 anytime from 3-5 p.m. for some fun and fellowship together! We will have some snacks and desserts and enjoy each other’s company. You don’t need to bring anything other than yourself, and all ages are welcome. Our address is 3147 Meadow Springs Dr. Watkinsville, Georgia 30677. You can park on the street or in the driveway when you arrive. We hope to see you this Saturday at our house as we press pause and enjoy some fellowship together!
The Prayerful Pause - July 6
This week, I wanted to share a few more ideas for simple, low-cost Summer Service Projects to help us be the hands and feet of Christ together in our community! We can share God’s love with others in our daily lives just by doing small acts of unexpected kindness from time to time. Here are a few ways to consider reaching out to folks in our community over the next few weeks,
Help Union’s Christian Women’s Fellowship collect the school supplies that our teachers have requested for students in need. You can drop your supplies in the Gathering Space during the month of July. Please be sure to check the list of supplies needed in this mid-week update before you do your shopping.
Mail notes of encouragement to 3-4 people on the Union prayer list.
Deliver some pre-packaged snacks to a local fire station, police station, medical office or business with a thank you note.
Drop off some flowers, garden fresh produce, cookies, or another small gift on one of your neighbor’s porch with an encouraging note.
No matter how you are led to do it, please keep sharing God’s love with others wherever you are and wherever you go! I am thankful to be on mission with you, Union Family! May God continue to bless others through your love, generosity, and service!
The Prayerful Pause - June 29
For the next several weeks, I will be sharing some simple ideas for summer service projects in the Prayerful Pause. My hope is that God will use these simple acts of service to share love and encouragement with others. All of these summer service projects will be low cost and easy to do from home with your family. For this week’s Summer Service Project, I invite you to pause and write a hand-written note of encouragement to a person serving in the military.
You can send a note of encouragement to an unnamed service member through a wonderful organization in Duluth, Georgia called Hugs for Soldiers. In fact, Hugs for Soldiers is a ministry of Duluth First United Methodist Church, and they share encouraging notes with active-duty service members serving all over the world.
If you would like to write a note, be sure to check out Hugs for Soldiers letter writing guidelines at https://www.hugsforsoldiers.org/cards-and-letters and then mail your card to:
HUGS FOR SOLDIERS
Duluth First United Methodist Church
3208 Duluth Hwy. 120
Duluth, GA 30096
Before you mail your letter, please pause and pray for the person that will receive it and ask God to encourage him or her as they serve!
The Prayerful Pause - June 22
Each one of us is an important part of the Body of Christ, and we each have various gifts, talents, and passions that God has given us for service and ministry together. The Apostle Paul’s words to the Church at Corinth remind us, “You are the Body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:27).
As we turn the page and begin another church year, I want to ask you to pause and prayerfully consider some important questions:
What part of the Body of Christ are you?
How does God want to use you and your gifts as part of the Union Family?
One great way to get plugged in and use some of the gifts God has given you is to serve on one of our Service Teams at Union! Below are some short descriptions of our Service Teams. If you are interested in serving on a Service Team, take a moment to sign-up on the clipboard in the Gathering Space or contact me for more information. I am thankful for each of you and for the many ways we have to serve together as the Body of Christ.
Worship Leader Team- Lead the Call to Worship, offer the Invocation, and read the Opening Scripture during morning worship.
Children’s Church Team- Teach a Bible lesson to our preschool and elementary aged children. A lesson plan with fun activities can be provided.
Children’s Chat Team- Share a short Bible story or object lesson with our children during morning worship.
Nursery Team- Assist in caring for infants and toddlers in the church nursery during morning worship.
Greeter Team- Welcome guests and members to Union in a warm and friendly way.
Sanctuary Prep Team- Prepare the Sanctuary and Communion Table for morning worship.
Hospitality Team- Help provide food and hospitality during times of illness or bereavement.
Building Maintenance Team- Troubleshoot and work with a team to tackle the maintenance and repair and needs of the church building.
Safety and Security Team- Secure and monitor the church building and parking lot on Sundays.
The Prayerful Pause - June 15
As many of you have seen, there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our church family. Despite feeling fine while at church on Sunday morning, David Webb tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday evening, and I have now tested positive as well. Thankfully so far our cases are mild and Jyoti has tested negative. However, if you attended Worship or Sunday School on June 12, you could have been exposed to COVID-19.
We are hopeful that the risk is low; however, we are asking everyone to maintain personal diligence and monitor yourself for any COVID symptoms including:
Fever or chills
Headache
Sore throat
Cough
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Congestion or runny nose
Muscle or body aches
Nausea or vomiting
If you develop any symptoms after being at church this past Sunday, June 12, please stay home, talk with your healthcare provider, and get tested. Please also notify Pastor Heather or Nickie Pearson in the church office of any confirmed positive COVID cases.
Please also note that the Open House at the Webb Home that was scheduled for this Saturday, June 18 has been canceled, but we look forward to another chance to fellowship with you very soon.
We will postpone our regular Church Council meeting. Instead, we will meet next Thursday, June 23 at 7:00 PM.
At this time, we are planning to hold worship at 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 19. Parrish Myers will be our guest preacher and members of our Union family will lead worship. Should we need to make any adaptations to Sunday morning, we will communicate that later this week.
Sunday School will not meet this Sunday, June 19, since I am the teacher and have some of the materials at home.
Finally, please be in prayer for the health and well-being of our Union family and for my family, too. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns in the days ahead. I am thankful for you and I am blessed to be your pastor.
With every blessing,
Pastor Heather
The Prayerful Pause - June 8
Union Family, I am blessed to be your pastor and so thankful for our ministry together! My heart is absolutely full this week. Our Adventure Island VBS has been great! We’ve had a great group of kids and a fantastic group of volunteers each night. This week has been an answer to our prayers!
We’ve seen children excited about being at church. We’ve seen children learning important lessons from the Bible about love, trust, faith, hope, and joy. We’ve seen God’s love shared and received in amazing ways. The children have felt so loved while at Union, and that just makes my heart sing with joy! In response to all these blessings, I can think of nothing better to do but to pause and thank God. Please take a look at some of the pictures below then pause and pray with me.
Thank God for a wonderful week and praise God for making it all possible.
Thank God for all 28 children who came to VBS during the week!
Thank God for the volunteers who served and the supplies that were donated.
Pray for the children who attended VBS and for all the seeds that were planted in the hearts and minds of these little ones.
Ask God to continue to water and grow to seeds that were planted during VBS.
The Prayerful Pause - June 1
Summer is finally here! It’s time to enjoy some warmer weather and fun with family and friends. We also have a lot to look forward to as a church family this summer at Union. I hope you will jump in and participate as God leads you!
Vacation Bible School starts this Sunday, June 5, at 5:30 PM and runs through June 9! Thank you to all who have volunteered and shared supplies with us for VBS already! Adventure Island is going to be a lot of fun as we go on a quest in search for God’s great light together! Please pray for the children and all the volunteers who will participate in VBS this year. Ask God to bless them and grow each one in His grace.
This month, I also want to encourage you to prayerfully consider coming alongside our Christian Women’s Fellowship in their effort to raise funds for Week of Compassion’s ongoing work with the children and families of Ukraine. The CWF has already pledged $500 for this cause. If you would like to share a gift as well, you can do that until June 15. Just make sure to mark your gift for Week of Compassion. This year, our VBS Offering will also help support this vital work.
Finally, I want to remind you that we have 30 days to go in our 100 Days of Prayer for Union. Let’s keep praying and trusting God with every aspect of our life and ministry together. God has great things in store, Union Family! I am thankful to be your pastor!
The Prayerful Pause - May 25
Today our hearts are breaking as we think about the horrific violence and loss of life that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas yesterday. We also are grieving the deadly violence that occurred in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York just a few days ago. We continue grappling with the violence of war that has been so devastating for the people of Ukraine over the last several months. We find ourselves asking, what should our response be as followers of Christ when there is so much tragic violence in the world today?
As faithful followers of Christ, we grieve with those who are hurting. We pray and ask God to comfort those who mourn. We ask God to bring violence to an end and to help us live in peace with one another. We pray, "Lord have mercy." We pray, "Christ have mercy," and we know that God hears our faithful prayers.
Yet, as we pray, may we also remember that God wants to use us to help answer the prayers that we pray. We may think we have nothing to offer the Lord in the face of problems that are beyond our human understanding, but God sees things much differently. Yes, God wants to use us as we yield ourselves to be instruments of peace in God’s loving and faithful hands.
So, this week as we pray for those impacted by horrific violence in the world, let’s also ask God to use each of us as instruments of His peace. Let’s ask God to use us as instruments of peace in our own homes, in our community, and everywhere we go. Let’s also ask God to use us together as Union Christian Church as an instrument of peace in every aspect of our life and ministry together. May we, as the people of God, live in such a way that others experience the love and peace of Christ each time they come in contact with us individually or collectively as a church family.
For as we yield ourselves to be instruments of peace in God’s faithful hands, I sense that we will hear the promise and the challenge of Jesus’ own words found in Matthew 5:9 ringing in our ears and in our hearts, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Keep us in your faithful hands and use us daily as you answer the prayers we pray. Amen.
The Prayerful Pause - May 18
Have you ever felt like you wanted to talk with God, and you were not sure what to say? That happens to all of us from time to time. Any time I am searching for the words to say to God in prayer, I go to the Psalms and read them prayerfully.
There are 150 poems and songs in in the Book of Psalms and you can find every single human emotion there. Those who penned the Psalms did so with such authenticity and honesty before God. So, when we can’t find the words to pray, we can look to the Psalms for help.
This week, I’ve included a few Psalms for us to prayerfully read together. Find a quiet spot with your Bible and pray as you read each Psalm. I’ve also linked the passages below if you would like to read them on your screen as well.
No matter when or how you read these Psalms this week, you can do so trusting that God understands the prayer of our heart and knows what we would like to say even when we can’t find the words to express it fully.
After you read each of these Psalms, try to spend some time just sitting still with God and taking some intentional time to listen to God as well.
Be encouraged as you read and listen prayerfully! God is listening and God is speaking because God loves us!
Psalms to pray together this week:
The Prayerful Pause - May 11
Our young people are an important part of the Union Family! This Sunday is Graduate Sunday, and we look forward to celebrating our graduates together! We will present Bibles to Maya Allen and Joseph Drube, as our two High School Graduates on Sunday. We will also celebrate the accomplishments of Brice Eades, Kendall Green, and Shelby Thomas as our College and Graduate School graduates this year. All of our graduates have worked hard and we are proud of their achievements! Please take a moment to pause and pray for Maya, Joseph, Brice, Kendall, and Shelby as they begin new chapters in their lives. Pray that God will guide, uphold, and encourage these dear ones every day. Pray that our graduates will always remember that God is with them wherever they go.
Our children are also an important part of the Union Family! It was so wonderful to see so many children in church last Sunday and it filled my heart with joy! In just a few weeks, our Vacation Bible School will be here so I want to pause and encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors to join us for Adventure Island, June 5-9 from 5:30-8:30 pm! We still need volunteers to help lead the children around from station to station during VBS. If you can help that week, please talk with Angie Eades or Holly Green! Please also be in prayer for our VBS. Ask God to bless the children, the volunteers, and all we will learn together during VBS week!
The Prayerful Pause - May 4
This Sunday, May 8 is Mother's Day! Let’s pause and thank God for all who mother us and pray for them as well. Here are a few prayer points to help us pray.
Thank God for the mothers who raised us and also for all the women who have mothered us over the years in one way or another.
Thank God for those who mothered us in the home and for those who mothered us in the faith.
Thank God for all the women who have mothered us, nurtured us, taught us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and given us wise counsel and guidance.
Pray for those who long to be mothers and for those who grieve the loss or absence of children.
Pray for those who are missing mothers that have passed away or who are absent.
Pray that God will provide wisdom, encouragement, and strength to all the women who mother others every day.
Union is filled to the brim with mighty women who mother others in such amazing ways! Thank God for all who mother in the Family of God.
Indeed, God has used and continues to use women to love, nurture, and guide us. Thanks be to God for the mothering care of the mighty women in our lives. Amen!
The Prayerful Pause - April 27
This week, I am feeling especially thankful for Nickie Pearson! As you well know, Nickie is our wonderful Office Administrator here at Union. Today, April 27, is Administrative Professional’s Day, and we are celebrating Nickie’s faithful service to God in the church office!
Nickie works with the exact right mix of dedication, attention to detail, and compassion. She makes sure things are running smoothly in the church office with great skill and organization. Nickie’s work in the office is indeed outstanding but her warmth and care for the people of Union is something that sets her apart. She is a tremendous blessing to us as a church family and to me as your pastor!
As part of our 100 Days of Prayer at Union and in celebration of Administrative Professional’s Day, let’s pause and thank God for Nickie this week!
Thank God for Nickie’s gifts and talents.
Thank God for the beautiful way that her gifts and talents bless Union.
Thank God for Nickie’s faithful service over the years.
Ask God to bless and encourage Nickie and her family as she continues serving here at Union.
Indeed, we are a blessed to have such a special person supporting Union’s life and ministry together in the church office. I hope you will take a chance to not only pray for Nickie this week but to also express your thanks and appreciation to her personally.
Thank you, Nickie! We love you!
The Prayerful Pause - April 20
My heart is still full after the wonderful experience we had together during Holy Week and Easter! The joy of Resurrection Sunday this year was so special after the last two years of pandemic Easter Celebrations. This week, let’s pause and thank God for the many blessings we have seen and experienced during Holy Week and Easter. Please join me in thanking God for:
The chance to welcome Thomas Peters as a new member! He will be baptized on Sunday, May 1! Praise God!
The amazing Easter Boxes that were shared with our neighbors in need; they were a beautiful outreach.
A meaningful Lenten Soup and Study that God used to draw us closer to Christ and one another.
A powerful Holy Week Prayer Experience that was well attended and meaningful.
A joyous Easter Egg Hunt filled with children and made possible by faithful volunteers and donations from the congregation.
A special Sunrise Service and a delicious breakfast prepared with love.
A glorious Easter Service at 11:00 AM that filled our hearts with joy.
The amazing way that the Union Family works together to accomplish ministry for the Glory of God! This is a huge praise point for me as your Pastor! Your service and teamwork is outstanding!
A great start to our Women’s Small Groups this week.
Indeed, we have much to be thankful for as God continues to work in us and through us each day! Please keep praying for Union during our 100 days of intentional and specific prayer for the church we love. God hears us when we pray and is already doing great things in our midst. Let’s continue asking God to guide us and use us to share His love in the world every day! Amen and Amen!
The Prayerful Pause - April 13
It’s Holy Week and we are remembering Jesus’ journey from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection. This week, we journey with Jesus from the shouts of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday, to the Upper Room and the Garden on Thursday, to the horrific events of Good Friday, and to the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Thankfully, even with the darkness of the terrible events of Good Friday, we know that Sunday is coming! We are Easter people, and even in the grief that we feel during Holy Week, we can hold fast to the promise that Easter will come once again.
Holy Week is rich and full at Union this year. I want to encourage you to participate as your schedule allows. We have our final soup and study on Wednesday evening at 5:45 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We have the hands-on Holy Week Prayer Experience that you can drop-in anytime on Thursday from 1-6 p.m. We have the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. On Easter Sunday, we will enjoy two worships services! The Sunrise Service will be at 6:45 a.m. in the cemetery with breakfast to follow. Later that morning, we will worship joyfully together at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. There are many opportunities to draw closer to Christ and to each other during Holy Week at Union. I hope you will find a way to plug in and invite others to participate too.
Yet, most of all during Holy Week this year, I want to encourage you to prayerfully pause each day and simply spend time with Jesus. Pause and talk with Jesus about all that He experienced from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. Pause and dialogue with Jesus just as you would with a trusted friend. Pause and remember that Jesus loves us much more than we can ever begin to fully understand.
Finally, I am praying that as you walk through Holy Week, you will sense that Jesus is with you on the journey each day! May God grow you and guide you this week as you Journey with Jesus! Amen.
The Prayerful Pause - April 6
The Prayerful Pause
by Pastor Heather
I am looking forward to this Sunday! It’s Palm Sunday and we will be remembering Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will remember that the crowds welcomed Jesus by waving palm branches and shouting, "Hosanna." We will remember that Jesus entered the city in a most unexpected way, riding on the back of a humble donkey. We will remember that those welcoming cheers of Hosanna soon turned to jeers, sneers, and angry voices shouting, “crucify him.”
As we prepare our hearts for Palm Sunday and for the start of Holy Week, let’s prayerfully pause today and remember that Jesus, our King, comes to us every day as we experience ups and downs on the road of life. In times of joy, celebration, sorrow, challenge, or peace, Jesus, our King, comes to us and is with us on the journey every day! May we welcome his presence and rejoice!
I am also looking forward to this Sunday for another important reason! This Sunday, our Deacons will begin passing baskets to serve the pre-filled chalice communion cups to the congregation during the service. The Elder for the day will also serve the choir. For now, there will still be a small basket of the pre-filled cups in the Gathering Space if someone feels more comfortable picking up their cup from there. We also ask that those serving in children’s church and in the nursery continue to pick up their communion cups on the way into church each Sunday morning.
I am excited for Sunday because passing the elements to each other in worship prompts us to pause and remember that all of us are called to serve and minister to one another as part of the Body of Christ. So, this Sunday, when everyone is served, we will joyfully share in communion together, remembering Jesus, who comes to us daily as we journey on the road of life!
The Prayerful Pause - March 30
The Prayerful Pause
by Pastor Heather
As a church, we have just embarked on a 100 Days of Prayer for Union! Between now and July 1, you are invited to pause at least once a day to pray specifically and intentionally for Union. We want to cover every aspect of our life and ministry together in prayer over the next 100 days. This week, I wanted to highlight three creative ways to remind yourself to pause and pray for Union at least once every day.
Put up a post-it note somewhere you will see it often so that it reminds you to pray. Here is the one in my office at church. I see it each time I enter and exit my office and when I sit at my desk, too. It’s a constant reminder to pray for Union!
Make sure to pick up one of the prayer charms that our amazing children made with Lisa Sledge last Sunday. These special charms are in a small bowl on the front table in the Gathering Space if you did not get one last Sunday. Wear or display your prayer charm somewhere where it will remind you to pray for Union each day.
Set a reminder on your phone that buzzes at the same time every day. When you hear this reminder, pause and pray for a specific aspect of our life and ministry together at Union.
And as we pray for Union over the next 100 days, keep remembering Paul’s words about prayer:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8
The Prayerful Pause - March 23
Over the next 100 days, I want to encourage us to become even more intentional about praying for Union every day. 100 days from today is July 1, 2022. As we settle into new rhythms of our life and ministry together between now and then, I think that intentional and specific prayer for Union is vital. I want to encourage us to be specific with our prayers for Union. Yes, we are praying for the church as a whole, but I also want us to pray specifically about every aspect of our life and ministry together. Over the next 100 days, will you join me in praying for Union intentionally and specifically? Here are some things you can pray about over the next 100 days:
Pray that God’s love will be evident in this place.
Pray for the leadership in the church. Pray for the staff who serve here.
Pray for the ministries, worship services, and programs of the church.
Pray for the financial needs of the church.
Pray for God’s guidance, vision, and leadership as we move into the future together.
Pray for specific people in the church.
Pray for unity in the church.
Pray that God will help us to share His love in the community boldly.
Pray that a fresh wind of the Spirit would blow through this place bringing revival and a renewed passion for ministry, outreach, and missions.
Pray that God would show us the new things He would like to do in us and through us together in the days ahead.
Pray that people without a church family would find a home here.
Pray, pray, pray, and pray again for Union over the next 100 days. It’s vital.
As we embark on the next 100 days of intentional prayer for Union, I have also shared a few tips below to help us pray even more intentionally for Union each day.
Set a reminder on your phone so that you remember to pray around the same time every day.
Focus on one part of Union’s life and ministry in your prayer each day.
Put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror to remind you to pray for Union.
Pray at the same place every day.
Pray as you drive (keep your eyes open!) or exercise.
Make an appointment with someone else to pray together.
Pray a passage of Scripture or a verse that you love for Union.
Draw or doodle your prayers.
Write your prayers as a letter to God in your journal.
Pray as you sing or play an instrument.
Rejoice, pray continually, and give thanks for all that God is doing among us!
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
The Prayerful Pause - March 16
The Prayerful Pause
by Pastor Heather
In this busy and noisy world, it’s sometimes difficult to press pause and truly connect with God and with each other. In The Prayerful Pause, I will seek to regularly share some thoughts from my heart to help us connect with God and one another more fully.
I love a good story! Stories can make us laugh and can bring quick smiles to our faces. Stories can make us cry both happy and sad tears. Stories help us remember how God has been present with us and provided for us day after day. Stories remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness along the journey. Over the last few weeks, I have really enjoyed hearing some of your stories. It’s been a gift to sit down and laugh with you, to cry with you, and to remember God’s faithfulness with you. Keep telling me your stories. They are good and so important.
Jesus, the Master Teacher, understood the importance of a good story. He told them regularly and specialized in using parables to help people understand what the Kingdom of God is like. The best definition of a parable that I have ever heard is that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus knew well that stories could teach us so much about God’s heart.
This week, I want to encourage you to follow Jesus’ example and be a storyteller. Press pause each day for a little while and share a good story that points to God’s faithfulness with someone. Share a story with a family member over a meal. Call a friend and share a good story over the phone. Share a story with a child or young person that you love. Email or text someone a good story. Post an encouraging story on Social Media. Sit down with someone for a chat and share your stories together. Please don’t forget to share your stories with me as your new pastor! I love hearing your stories, and I love you, too. 💜
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Psalm 107:2-3
The Prayerful Pause - March 1
The Prayerful Pause
By Pastor Heather Webb
In this busy and noisy world, it’s sometimes difficult to press pause and truly
connect with God and with each other. In The Prayerful Pause, I will seek to
regularly share some thoughts from my heart to help us connect with God
and one another more fully.
This Week’s Prayerful Pause:
Pause and read Psalm 139
Prayerfully read and reflect on the devotional thought below.
For as long as I can remember, I have been afraid of heights. I don’t like roller coasters or rock climbing, and I would never go skydiving. Despite my fear of heights, God has helped me to live atop high mountain peaks and fly across the world several times. I have even learned to love gazing out of an airplane
window as I am captivated by the up-close abundance of billowy white clouds and the infinite blue sky outside.
While the scenery beside an airplane is beautiful in its own right, I confess that I am more fascinated by the view below. Buildings, houses, and cars seem so small and insignificant when viewed from the air. When flying at night, the plane’s distance from the ground reduces even the brightest city lights to tiny clusters of shimmering sequins that randomly dot an expanse of black. Large mountains, canyons, and rivers become shadowy indentions and ripples that merely interrupt the regularity of the terrain below.
My thoughts usually turn to the people on the ground when I gaze at the miniature size of things below. Sometimes I even find myself asking questions. Who is driving that tiny car? What stories would the family in that minuscule house have to tell? What troubles do the people in that distant city struggle with each day? While the responses to these questions remain a mystery to me, God knows the answers!
When I pause to consider God’s view of humanity, I am reminded that God does more than see us all at once. God knows each of us in intricate detail and lovingly calls each of us by name. The enormity of God’s love constantly surrounds us, gently sustains us, and faithfully guides us every day. Indeed, no matter where we are or what we are doing, God sees us and is present with us in all of life’s circumstances.
So, as we begin this new season of ministry together, my prayer is that we will be a church that pauses to remember and share these important truths in our life and ministry together: God sees us. God knows us. God loves us. God is always present with us! Amen.
February 9
Dear Church,
What a joy it has been to share a bit of our journey together! Our journey together is drawing to a close, and your journey with Reverend Heather Webb will soon begin. I cannot wait to see the fruits of your journey together. I preached my last sermon for you last Sunday, on February 6. I will be with you this Sunday as a we welcome Reverend Denise Bell, our Regional Minister in worship.
This Sunday will be my last worship service with you. I will no longer be preaching, writing, or actively present at the church as Union prepares to welcome your soon arriving minister, Reverend Heather Webb.
I know there is a bit of time, yet before Pastor Heather arrives. I will continue to be here to offer continuing pastoral care through the rest of February. During that time, don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything. I will, of course, offer my prayers to you and for you always.
As this part of our journey together draws to a close, please know how much I value you as a healthy, vital congregation. Please know I love you, brothers and sisters. Please know I will miss you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan