The Blessing of Time
Every once in awhile God seems to sneak up and surprise me with yet another moment of grace. A couple months ago our website received a message that read in part, "I hope I have the correct Pete Nelson, I wanted to let you know that we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this June. I remember the counseling and testing that you did for me while I was in town and by mail while the groom was in Albuquerque. I wanted more than anything to let you know that we are still together, and yes, we are very happy and very much in love."
The note continues to relay how their family has flourished and their children are grown and thriving. I remember this couple! They had begun their family and decided for many good reasons that it was time to take the step they had not taken some years earlier and "make this legal". Their note continues, "I wanted to thank you for working with us 20 years ago and for having faith that we were on the right track. Sometimes it's nice to have a success story, please consider us one of yours." WOW! What a great reminder that risk really does have its rewards and grace really is in charge.
As of July 1st our congregation has entered a "Ministry Partnership" with the good folks of the Smith Valley United Methodist Church. We are doing so out of a desire to serve beyond ourselves and to say with our actions as well as with our words that God's grace really is sufficient for every need. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Who knows what lies in store for us as we enter this new time of shared ministry. It will mean some opportunities for worship and preaching leadership as I help coordinate the Sunday morning in both churches. It may open some new doors to different ways of accomplishing the mission to which we are called. Remember our mission: "To Know Christ and to Help Make Christ Known". Words that are written above our door as we leave the church building, yet yearn to be written upon our hearts as we engage our everyday world. Words to live by as the say, whoever "they" are. Words to carry with us, to repeat within us, to guide and empower us: words that are just words until we give them the flesh and blood of the service they empower.
As we ponder that incarnation of grace in our lives, remember that every once in a while God really does seem to sneak up and surprise us with another opportunity to serve and share. Blessings to your summer. May you find rest and renewal in all your endeavors.
Grace and Peace, Pete
