"Midweek and Pondering a Question" Pastor Cindy's Devotion 03/27/2019

Hello everyone,
I like a good question.

“Who do you say that I am?”  “Do you want to be made well?”  “Do you love me?”

Those are questions Jesus asked.  A good question reaches into our souls, demands something of us.
I heard a good question this week.

On Monday our church council endorsed the statement:  “Come as you are.  We honor and welcome the diversity you bring.”  Everyone found that to be an acceptable statement, something that everyone at WDMUMC could live with.

And then someone asked a good question: “Is it true?”  Do we honor and welcome diversity?

Do we welcome the scruffy, the poor, the smelly, the child who misbehaves, the person whose accent makes their English difficult to understand, the tattooed, the other?

And if we welcome, how far does our welcome go?  Do we share our name?  Do we ask for theirs?  Do we invite them to sit with us?

And what about honor?  Do we honor diversity to the point that we look at our programming and habits and ask if what we are doing honors the diversity of others?   Do we regard diversity as a way of expanding the kingdom of God?  Do we see diversity as a gift that gives us the opportunity to grow in our ability to love others?

“Come as you are.  We honor and welcome the diversity you bring.”  Is our statement true or false advertising?  Do we want it to be true?

Jesus asked really good questions.  I think if we look for answers to the questions he asked, we will find an answer to the question that was asked on Monday night.

Blessings,
Pastor Cindy
Pastor Cindy Hickman
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
515-279-0826

Like us on Facebook or visit us at wdmumc.org.
We worship on Sundays at 8:30 in a traditional way, 11 in a casual way and at 5 pm in a non-traditional service grappling with the need to be inclusive.  We would love to worship with you.

This Week A WDMUMC: 
Tonight!  Supper is on at 5:30.  Ham and Macaroni & Cheese are on the menu.  The free will offering from the meal will fund our Hungry Children program this summer.  Every week we get closer to our goal.  Bring a friend.

Habitat for Humanity!  This Saturday WDMUMC will be working on the Habitat House at 817 7th.  You can sign up at https://gdmhabitat.secure.force.com/volunteer/VolunteersJobListingFSC?jobId=a0G6100000IlL5t  Come and join in as a house becomes a home.