What does Summer mean to you? Vacation time? Time to relax? Going to the cabin or spending time with family?
One of the things that I am excited about this summer is the birds. Recently we have put up bird feeders in our back yard and it has been wonderful to see the variety of birds and watch them feeding and flying around. The robin seems to be the guardian of the feeders, keeping watch over them. We’ve had a bluejay, chickadees, nut hatches, several types of woodpeckers, a huge crow, and of course, the obligatory squirrel. Sometimes they can easily settle on the feeders, and other times it takes a bit of work. The bigger birds and the squirrel have a particularly challenging time balancing their weight on the feeders without falling off before feasting.
In thinking about these critters, I am reminded that they are all here to be fed. We have set the table, but they come because they know they need the food for sustenance both right now, and in the squirrel’s case, hiding it away for a future time of need.
I think the same goes for us at church. We come because we know that we need to be fed and sustained in our journey of faith. Each week the worship team sets the table for you to come and receive nourishment through music, scripture, words of assurance and affirmation, and sometimes challenge, and connection with the community of faith.
We also provide other opportunities to interact, build relationships and serve one another and the larger community, but it is up to us to come and be ready to receive the food. Sometimes, we even have to do a little work to receive — perhaps the songs are not as familiar, or the scripture is challenging. However, we know that the food is here for our nourishment and the nourishment of the community around us.
And then there are the other events at church that feed our souls. Just this month we have our donut sale on June 2, the Garden Team’s plant sale on June 11, Summer Worship on June 21 and our rummage sale on June 22. Additionally this month, we have our regular events of Men’s Coffee, exercise (Bone Builders and Yoga), our Knitting Klub and the Green Door Book Group meeting.
All of these gatherings, whether for worship or other events, help us find sustenance and joy in our days, each day, every day. And through these events we can invite others to know and experience God’s love and the presence of community for themselves.
So join us for worship each Sunday or the third Wednesday in June, July or August. Come to the donut sale, plant sale or rummage sale. Join us and celebrate that we too, like the birds of the fields will find nourishment and a feast for our souls in this place, this community of faith.
Blessings and Peace,
Katherine