As I drove onto campus this morning, the parking lot was filled with smiling kids, eager to get to their classrooms and embark on another fun-filled day of learning and growing in our summer time programs. While the world around us seems to be increasingly filled with violence and fear, there is something incredibly powerful about a child's laughter and wonder, and the way that they uninhibitedly embrace a new day. As a mom of two of those children, it fills my heart with hope and joy to know that my kids are excited to spend the day (again, and again) on these sacred grounds. As a pastor, I can't help but give thanks for the ways in which we are planting seeds that God will cultivate for a life-time to come. All of this reminded me of Aaron's sermon last week: A Methodist Rejoices! in God. We could all use a heavier does of wide-eyed wonder and joy to start our day, couldn't we? Perhaps a great way to do that is to let our children remind us what it looks like to embrace God's mercies with each new morning.

 

This Sunday, I will be preaching on the theme A Methodist Gives Thanks as part of current sermon series, Five Marks of Methodist: The Fruit a Living Faith. We will explore what it means to give thanks always and the significance of living grateful lives, not only for the good of our personal lives but for the sake of our communities. In preparing for this sermon, I have become all the more convinced that, perhaps now more than ever, there is a distinct and critical role that we as Methodist followers of Christ have to play in our neighborhoods, our communities, and our world. And, I am especially grateful that I am able to live into this call with each and every one you. 

 

Hope to see you Sunday!

Blessings of joy and gratitude,

Lenora

P.S. If I won't see you on Sunday, don't forget you can live stream the 9:40 service on our YouTube channel.