July 3, 2024 Midweek News
Happy Wednesday Church Family,
I’m headed to Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp this evening to participate in 4th of July Intergenerational Camp with my family. I’m looking forward to lake views, camp songs, sparklers on the dock, and hopefully no more thunderstorms!
As we all make plans to celebrate and mark the 4th of July, I’m noticing how much tension I’m feeling in my heart, mind, and soul regarding the future of our country. It’s an election year – and that raises everyone’s blood pressure – but it’s also been a newsworthy week. We saw a messy debate, we’ve seen dramatic Supreme Court headlines, and now one party is flirting with the idea of changing their presidential candidate. We are living through unprecedented times and folks feel anxious and ungrounded. Maybe you are feeling the weight closer to home – lots of lightning strikes remind us that we are in wildfire season, we’re seeing lots of tourists, folks are having surgeries and medical procedures, and the heat is about to go up in the next few days.
What can we do when it feels as if the ground beneath us is unsteady? Either from grief, personal struggles, circumstances, or cultural influences? One thing that helps me is to practice gratitude. So, this week I’ve been keeping a mental list of things I’m grateful for:
– We’ve got an enthusiastic group of folks studying Messy Church at CFUMC. Thinking about the future is exciting!
– Many of us witnessed a real sense of community and heartfelt love at Don Lawrence’s celebration of life last Sunday
– The next generation of children and young people from our congregation are attending Flathead Lake UMC this summer
– It’s the season for fresh peaches!
So what are you grateful for? How is God speaking to you as you practice gratitude and thanksgiving?
Blessings,
Pastor Jared