Drinking from a Fire Hose
Hello Friends,
I have been blessed to be immersed in worship this week in beautiful Denver tending to my soul. My friend Paula, pastor of Church of the Eternal Hills in Tabernash Colorado, made arrangements for our housing and we stayed in a condo with a rooftop patio. The first night that I was here, we watched the eclipse with the backdrop of the mountains. I have gone to sleep each night with this incredible view of the sky and the rugged heaving of God’s earth reaching to the skies.
The people that I am attending the Festival of Homeletics with are my clergy friends from seminary. You have heard me talk about them often. They are my support group, safe place and Biblical scholars all wrapped up together. We have journeyed life together, meeting almost weekly, since 2012. I can’t imagine trying to be a pastor in today’s world without a group of people like this. We heard today that 42% of clergy have resigned in the last two years. It breaks my heart that so many people who have answered the incredibly difficult call to serve the church and God’s broken humanity have given up. Yet, I completely understand because what the CoVid pandemic did for so many of us was force us to reevaluate our lives. What things give us life and what things harm our spirits? It saddens me that the church is the place that Pastors found harm.
It was so wonderful to arrive in this place after receiving the gifts of love from my congregation. It was completely surprising and I am so thankful to serve along side such lovely people who were kind enough to say that you love and support Seungrok and myself. I am grateful every day for you and for the immensely talented staff that we have. Thank you so much.
I have been worshiping four times a day with lectures in between. It is like drinking from a fire hose! But what water, such wonderful water. I am excited to return today and share over the next few months things that I have learned and ways to worship that have stirred my soul. Pray that I get out of here before the snow arrives today!
Sunday you have an opportunity to “Be the Match” for blood donor ship. Kay Leslie is leading this project as her own sister fights for her life because of a blood disease. Kay is asking us to step up and consider being a donor for this life giving work. One of us might just “be the match” that someone has been waiting for. See Kay at the Service Station in order to help.
Blessings,
