I will never find enough words to thank you for the celebration of my ministry. It exceeded my expectations and reminded me why I have loved being in ministry all these years – you and people like you have given me the honor of relationship, friendship, kindness, and compassion. The Holy Spirit moves among us and binds us together in ways we may never fully understand. It’s been an honor and a joy to serve among you.

I heard God call me into ordained ministry on that trip - it led to a defining kind of movin’ right along, seminary, ordination…

I heard God call me into ordained ministry on that trip - it led to a defining kind of movin’ right along, seminary, ordination, etc. Whenever each of us is given the opportunity or takes the opportunity to reflect and look back, it’s often at a turning point for us or our loved ones. This past February, I did some traveling and followed some spiritual practices as I looked to God for some answers. I knew that I would be retiring either at the end of December 2022 or at the end of June 2023.

Welcome to August, everyone! Are you going on any adventures this month? Maybe you’ll find your way across the waves to VBS where there will be splishing and splashing through the Bible with lots of wiggly children! Maybe you’ll be traveling in your mind with the help of travel shows or social media pages.

These beautiful images of gratitude … They are signs that we are in the present, in the moment, and remembering that God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - are with us in all the moments.

May God bless these summer weeks … May God bless the memories summer brings … May God bless our belonging … May God bless you this summer.

It is so much easier to see the possibilities when the sun is shining, and the promise of warmth is shining on the world. That is this morning. Flowers are blooming - leaves are beginning to create that green haze on the trees.