From the Pastor's Pen...
Some thoughts . . .
I was able to get an advance peek at Joy’s excellent reflection on footprints. A wonderful ‘thank you’ of all those who travel through this church and who make their way into our hearts and lives as well. There is a cute story of a little seven year old boy who was taken to church on a Sunday for the first time by his grandmother. She asked the pastor to give the boy a bit of a “tour” through the sanctuary before worship so he would be comfortable. Just at the worship service started with the call to worship, the little boy said, (loud enough to be heard) “I like this place!” Everyone felt that statement was a perfect call to worship.
Surely, “I like this place!” describes our feeling in being together in church and living out our faith together as church at FCC Sherwood! Even when our life may not be going quite as well as we might wish, church is a place to be affirmed, to be loved, and to have hope restored.
As this newsletter goes out, we are in the midst of Vacation Bible School. Many, many thanks for the great leadership of Jean Jenkins, our education ministry chair, and of Joy Cagle, who has given tremendous assistance to Jean. Also, so many wonderful volunteers. A great time of learning and a time for fun for our children and for many children outside the life of our church.
As these hot summer days begin, summer camps are in full swing. We are immensely proud of Jennifer Mikesell who is directing two camps this summer and for many in our church who are counselors for these great young people in several of our church camps.
Summer can be a time of drought. Hopefully, not spiritually. We pray that the enthusiasm of these events for our youth spills over into the lives of all of us in this church family. Elijah had that time when he wished for the thundering heavens as a testimony of the presence of God. The reality was he experienced God in the “sound of sheer silence.”
If you are at that place in your days when you feel weary, maybe even somewhat of a burnout in your enthusiasm for life and in your faith journey as Elijah experienced, may the joy of youthful excitement coming out of the camps and VBS experiences be a source of renewal for you. And, in the midst of these amazing, sticky, hot, summer days in Arkansas, may you find that quiet spot where the reality of our Creator God is so incredibly real, especially in the “sound of sheer silence.”
Blessings your way!
Will
(Please make it a summer resolution to stay connected to church either through sharing in the 8:30 a.m. Praise Service on Sunday morning or the regular 10:45 a.m. service where we all rejoice in saying “I like this place!)
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