Dearest Members of Bethlehem,
“May God grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans…” -Psalm 20:4
A couple of weeks ago, NASA hit an asteroid 7 million miles away with a satellite that was moving at 14,000 miles per hour. Do you know what that is? That’s impressive.
But here’s the important thing to keep in mind… this all began with an idea. Someone had to suggest, “What if we could hit an asteroid with a satellite? Wouldn’t that be something?” And then, someone had to eventually say, “I think we should try it.”
There was planning, preparation, and meeting after meeting. There were failures, instances when just the right insight was incorporated into the plan, and there were moments when the necessary confidence was built to see the project through. But it was a process.
Our lives of faith are similar to this… Someone has to suggest, “Do you think we could share the power of the Spirit with a bunch of people?” You mean the Spirit that moves where it wants to when it wants to? Yep, that’s the one! “And you’re going to have that Spirit collide or impact hundreds of people that are also moving at a blistering pace in every direction imaginable?” Yes indeed, that’ll be the goal!
It won’t happen automatically. There will need to be planning and preparation. There will be meeting after meeting. There will certainly be failures, moments when just the right insight is incorporated, and there will be moments when we are moved and inspired beyond our wildest expectations.
We can do this consistently, I have no doubts… by the grace of God we will accomplish our goal. The organ will fire up, the first notes of the prelude will play, there will be a stirring in the hearts of the faithful, and then wham, the Spirit will have the Spirit’s way with us and we will encounter God once again.
Heartfelt worship is nothing short of a miracle, and it’s a welcome one… because in and through worship, we are offered the opportunity to collide with our gracious God and have our paths redirected.
Question for reflection: Have you had any really good ideas recently?
This week at Bethlehem:
On Thursday evening our Congregation Council will be meeting at 7:30.
On Saturday evening, we will share in worship at 6:00.
On Sunday morning we will offer worship at 8:00 and 10:30. Sunday School begins at 9:15. Confirmation and Youth Group begin at 6:30.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dan
God of grace and glory, we thank you for those times when we are overwhelmed by your goodness, in those moments we are blessed to experience a divine joy; a joy that passes all understanding, and a joy that has the power to sustain us in the most trying times. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
