Hello friends,
Who is God? That is the big glorious question that we get to explore every day of our lives. I began my day today at my daughter’s house holding my four-month-old grandson. I am pretty sure God smells like the smell of a baby’s head resting on my shoulder, innocent and sweet.
Who is God? I am thinking about that because of all that is happening around me.
Here are WDMUMC we have an intern for the summer. Priscilla is a student at Iowa State, and as she says she is feeling “nudges” from God that she should explore what it would mean to be a pastor. I get to have wonderful discussions with this bright, curious woman about ministry and who she understands God to be.
God is in our conversations. God is a nudging presence.
This week more than a thousand Methodists will gather for our annual conference. This is the time when we review what has happened in our churches over the last year and set our plans for the next year. This year we are not united. Disagreements over who and what is acceptable and who and what isn’t have deeply divided us.
God stands in the division, looking left and looking right. Jesus wept. I wonder if God does.
Two weeks from now I will travel to Cuba with our mission team. This is my first trip to Cuba. Several people on our team went to Cuba two years ago. They are so excited to return. I am sure that God is already there, waiting for our visit.
God is in the hospitality we share. God does not respect the borders between countries.
On Friday night at 9:30, my covenant group will host a worship service here at WDMUMC lamenting the sexual abuse and sexual violence that women and others have faced. This is a time of acknowledging the pain abuse has caused and set ourselves on a path of healing.
God stands with cupped hands, holding our pain. God shines a light on those who hurt others, calling us all to stop the pain we cause others.
This week our Everybody Eats! Ministry gets underway. Our volunteers will handbags of food to children and their families in our local park and at a nearby school to ensure that everybody eats over the weekend. 1200 bags are ready and will be distributed over the summer. And when that supply is exhausted, we will prepare more bags.
God will be in the park, watching and blessing. God will follow those bags as they are carried to the homes of our neighbors. God will bless the tables where that food is eaten.
Sometimes I can hear the sound of hammers from the Habitat House on 7th street.
God is in the walls and windows of that house as it becomes a home.
A summer of looking for God. A lifetime of seeking God. The adventure of learning more and more about who God is. Grace moving, embracing us, inviting our better selves.
Look up. Look around. Who is God?
Blessings,
Pastor Cindy
Pastor Cindy Hickman
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Ave
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 and at 11 in a casual way. You are invited!
This week at WDMUMC:
Prayers needed! Our youth mission team is traveling to Pittsburgh this summer July 21-27. We want each person on the trip to have a prayer partner, someone who will pray for them each day of the trip. Would you be willing to be a prayer partner? Contact Pastor Cindy at pastorcindy@wdmumc.org.
Today (06/05)! Coffee chat with Morganne from 5:00-7:00 PM at Smokey Row!
State Fair! It’s time to round up your buddies and sign up to work the state fair stand. Invite a friend to share in the fun! You can sign up at wdmumc.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment