Dear partners in ministry,

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” So begins the 8th Psalm. In faith, so begins our journey through summer. What wondrous opportunities we have to behold the majesty of God in all that is around us. God is as near as our breath and spread out to the ends of the universe, let alone wherever we may travel over the summer season.
Our joy and privilege is to be able to intentionally seek out our Lord throughout the summer season. We easily recognize God‘s becoming one of us in the birth of our Lord Jesus at Christmas time, even in the cold and dark of winter. (Perhaps because of the contrast of cold and warmth, darkness and light.) At Easter, the beauty of the birthing Spring is a visible manifestation of the glory of the resurrection, life from death, fullness out of emptiness, victory from defeat.
Yet in the summer, when God‘s glory and wonder is all around us, from the beauty and abundance of nature, to the wonder of children‘s laughter, gatherings of family and friends, all too many, all too often, absent themselves from experiencing God‘s presence. Yet, God‘s life, and growth, and abundance is all around us, in the flowers and trees, in the vegetables and grains growing, the warm breezes and the beauty of the stars at night. All revealing God‘s majesty; God‘s closeness to us. The very source of life and our being is all around us and we either fail to notice or are too involved with our many doings‘ to take the time to be in God‘s presence and return our praise and thanks to God in worship.
We claim the time to do all the special activities we enjoy in summer, and yet when we have the opportunity to experience and give thanks for our greatest joy, our relationship with the Creator of the universe through Jesus Christ our Lord, where are we? It‘s somewhat like someone offering you your favorite ice cream treat, or a cool glass of water in the summer heat and saying no thanks. We would never be so foolish.
When we have the opportunity to express the wonder and joy of God‘s love revealed in creation we should claim the opportunity and not let anything keep us from rejoicing in God‘s presence in worship and fellowship. Opportunities abound! Sunday morning worship, Praise on the Green, Prayer and Praise Sunday evenings, Vacation Bible School, Worship experiences at our vacation spots or with visits with family and friends; all offer the opportunity to celebrate God‘s presence, God‘s goodness and God‘s majesty.
This summer I will be taking just such opportunities in worship here at Kenmore and during a Spiritual Renewal leave I will experience in August. During this Renewal leave I will be in God‘s presence through worship, prayer, study, educational events and retreat areas. I am grateful for all these opportunities and want you to share in the opportunities you have at Kenmore UMC as well.
God‘s offers us the Living Water of his Love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our Lord breathes upon us the renewing breath of his Spirit. The seeds of God‘s love cast upon the soil of our waiting souls are ready to grow and bear fruit. Open yourself, your being, your soul, to God and may your very being sing out with God‘s praise, may your soul rejoice in the love of Christ Jesus, and may all God given life revel in the wonder of God‘s majesty. “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Live this extravagant and passionate gift in worship and in all the times of this season of God‘s majesty!
Shalom,
Pastor Peter LeValley