Time Flies – Pastor Cris

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Every week is pressed for time. Time does not just fly—it jettisons from one point to next at the blink of an eye.

• This past Sunday we re-instituted in-person worship (and were full, might I add!)
• We had our third Zoom congregational meeting during the pandemic where we approved a budget for ministry and missions at Bethel in the next year.
• AHS initiated Stage 2 of reopening, lessening restrictions for places of worship and business. While we will wait to see what follows, it seems that this trajectory will continue, giving us new possibilities for community life and fellowship.
• We’ve been ironing out plans for the summer this past week – kid’s camp, P.L.O.T., Canada day, and much more. These ideas bring joy and excitement, but, as also mentioned, they take time.
• We’re also looking forward to having a new Youth director, Doug Barr, start with us next week, while Melanie is away on Maternity leave.

 
This is a list of church-related things. I imagine you have your own list when you look back on your week. For some of us, maybe this was a slower week. For others, a lot more happened than you might remember.
 
If you’re rushed or tired, it’s good to note all that you’re doing. Not everything could have been done this week as you would’ve liked, nor did God intend for you to do it all.
 
We are called to be faithful in both a calling and time sense. A loving-God-and-others kind of faithfulness is about embracing a way of life that involves rest as you go and peace beyond our circumstances.
 
The following Wendell Berry quote reminds me of what sustains us when it seems the ‘dark’ shrouds our vision, or perhaps when our busyness overruns us. “Love is what carries you, for it is always there, even in the dark, or most in the dark, but shining out at times like gold stitches in a piece of embroidery” (Hannah Coulter).
 
Reflect on the week.
Thank God for the good.
Rest.
Prepare for what’s next.
 
My prayer is that God’s love will carry you in the flow of life that is before you, loving beyond what the schedule says you should do this week, loving as the Spirit leads you from the Father’s heart.

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