Good morning!
I woke up this morning to my to-do list running through my mind:
- Time to prepare the liturgy for next Sunday’s worship—
- Yesterday the message was about our homes and the problem of homelessness. Do I need to do follow up?
- Our stewardship campaign, Saints Alive! Living Generously is kicking off. Can we be generous saints?
- Confirmation begins on the 18th—time to review the materials!
- New members joining this Sunday!
- A wedding on Saturday.
- Sarah has the bibles ready for our third graders his Sunday. Anything else we need to do to get ready?
- I need to call Hillside, our neighborhood elementary school, to talk about working together
- What should our sermon series be for November?
- Next week the staff will have a retreat, Am I ready?
- And Advent? Will we have an all-church study for Advent? (The answer is yes; we just haven’t selected the book yet.)
- The Dream Summit. We have been gathering dreams and dreamers and on October 22 in the afternoon from 3-5, we will come together to dream.
And people, there are lots and lots of people to see.
And all of this in the shadow of the shooting last week in Las Vegas. It’s on my mind too.
All of this (and more actually) needs to be done. I love the work of the church. I am a To-Do List, Czar. I constantly run a to-do list. My worry is that sometimes my to-do list runs me. Are these the right things to do? Is this what I should spend my time on?
So this week, I am stepping away, stepping back, stepping out, just outside the doors of the church. I am bringing my lawn chair to church, setting it on the lawn by the front doors and spending time thinking and planning and praying. I have a box filled with things I want to read. I will take that along with me, too. I will carry my cell phone. (Dave tells me it is cold this morning—I may need a blanket too.) For this week, I want to give my to-do list to God and let grace help me sort it out.
I hope you will stop by. I want to hear what you are thinking about. Let grace sort your to-do list too.
So I will be out on the lawn.
A few practicalities: There is some business I have to attend to. Eating, for example. And I cannot sit all day in a lawn chair, so sometimes I will walk. But I will carry my cell phone and if I am not at my post and you want to find me, just call or text. 515-988-0636. I plan to go home around 6:30 or so. If it rains, I will be in the sanctuary.
That to-do list above? All of those things will get done. I just want to ensure that my heart is in the right place before I go to work on them.
I leave you with a bit of scripture for the day from Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
Breathing that in this week.
Every blessing,
Pastor Cindy
Pastor Cindy Hickman
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
Like us on Facebook or visit us at wdmumc.org.
This week at West Des Moines United Methodist Church…
Wednesday Night Live Dinner! 5:30 on Wednesday Cubbie Bear from the Iowa Cubs will be joining us for supper. You are invited to share in the fun!
And looking ahead—October 25 Trunk or Treat Night!
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