Friends, this is the beautiful Tuesday that the Lord has made. I pray that we can all rejoice and be glad in it.
We are here. We are alive. Here in Charlotte, we are basking in sunlight and warmth.
We are seeing flowers bloom and trees blossom. Thanks be to God.
I don’t know about you, but after a fall and winter of too many days spent indoors, I have been looking forward to these days of increasing light and warmth as spring springs into form.
Speaking of which, Caldwell, this coming Sunday, our clocks “spring ahead.” Although we may lose an hour of sleep, we will gain an hour of daylight in the evening. Thanks be to God for that.
Tonight, we will not have Preacher’s Porch because we are going to rejoice and celebrate the launch of John’s new book – Resurrecting Church: Where Justice and Diversity Meet Radical Welcome and Healing Hope. Read more about the book here. If you don’t yet have John’s book, you can purchase a signed copy at Park Road Bookstore here in Charlotte.
Plan to join us tonight at 7 pm to hear more about John’s new book and celebrate what God has done and is doing here at Caldwell. The link is in the email that got you to this blog post.
Mark your calendar as Rev. Dr. Diane Mowrey will lead a book study of John’s book. The study begins on March 28 at 6 p.m. Look for details in future communications.
This Sunday in worship, John leads us as we continue our Even Now Lenten Series. He will preach from Psalm 107:1-3 and 17-22 and John 3:14-21. You are invited to read these passages and join us on Sunday at 11 am with an open heart, open ears, along with bread and cup for the celebration of communion.
How can we be people of praise, hope, love, and worship – even now – during times of sickness, trouble, and distress, such as those described in Psalm 107? How can we understand God’s great love for the whole world as described in John 3 – even now – during this time of divisiveness and fear?
I hope we will both ponder and begin to answer these questions with our bodies this week. Let’s plan to get outside. Open our windows. Enjoy the sunshine. Spend time in nature. Breathe fresh air. Connect with friends and other loved ones in ways that soothe our souls and lighten our loads. Allow the beauty and wonder of creation to deepen our hope, love, joy, praise, and worship of our Creator God, our Loving Savior Jesus, and our Sustaining Spirit.
May the work of God’s hands encourage your heart and grant you peace – even now.
Your pastor and your friend, Gail