Wednesday Word 6.23.2021

Thoughts on Last Sunday's Text...

Hebrews 13:20-21  New International Version

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Saying goodbye isn’t easy. When I retired six months ago, I said goodbye to the small group of people with whom I had spent an enormous portion of the last twenty years. I chat with them from time to time, but it isn’t the same as spending forty hours together week in, week out. Now, just as my husband and I are dismantling our fourteen-month-old Zoom set-up and returning to the church house, we are saying goodbye to our Pastor and family.

For me, this is one of the hard parts about being a Methodist. The relationship between the leader of a congregation and its members can be a very personal one. If you visit www.umc.org, they have a section called “Ask the UMC-FAQs.” There you can ask “Why do United Methodist pastors change churches?” This little article summarizes the concept of the itinerant clergy. John Wesley is quoted in this article as having written that “…no one whom I ever yet knew has all the talents which are needful for beginning, continuing, and perfecting the work of grace in a whole congregation." By worshipping, studying, and serving with different individuals having different gifts and strengths, the development of the disciple can be enhanced.

Wesley’s construct makes perfect sense, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy as we say goodbye to our friends and fellow seekers. We must focus on the excitement that lies ahead for the Royers as they begin a new chapter and the excitement that lies in store for us as we welcome the Madigans to our church family. After all, God is the one in charge and we know that Paul told us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Now that is something to pray about.

Don’t forget to look for the lord today.

Vicki H.














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