Blessings for your day, friends!
The first Community Chocolate Festival was wonderful in its engagement of so many of
our church family and community! Preparations were made for the community to visit
and enjoy the benefits of chocolate and fellowship among us and resulted in an
estimated 200 or more people in attendance. What a wonderful day!
And because of that, we were able to support the ZIM VIM 2024 project to the tune of
$3,600. So, it’s official: the Women’s Hub is asking you to put May 10, 2025, on your
calendar for the 2 nd Annual Chocolate Festival! Celebrating and inviting others to
experience church in action never tasted so good! Thanks to all who made it happen.
Our Trustees undergird the smooth functioning of our property, facilities, and grounds in
so many ways and it’s so often behind the scenes. Whether its weeding garden plots so
we look attractive when visitors come, meeting vendors doing repairs, collaborating with
movers to re-place some of our pews, marking dead trees to be removed, placing new
directional and parking signs, replacing the hinge on a cabinet door… and much, much
more, they are doing it! Please say thank you to these dedicated servant-hearted folks
and the God’s Helping Hands members. And, when they ask for support, come on out
and pitch in!
At the May Church Council meeting, the Trustees’ hybrid plan for pews and pew-chairs
was presented and questions asked and answered. Pastor Erik invited all of us to pray
for the future we see for Community UMC and for the Church Council members who will
decide the seating for the sanctuary at the next meeting. Prayers for discernment
strengthen and upbuild the church with faith and ground us in Christ. In prayer, we seek
to honor God and all that is God’s, to respect and serve others and to grow ourselves in
wisdom.
We experienced a wonderful Pentecost worship service, didn’t we? We are alive in the
time when Jesus has come, lived, died, risen, and ascended. We wait for his return,
complete victory over evil and for heaven to come on earth. Now, with the Holy Spirit’s
in-dwelling guidance, we are the “aliveness” of Jesus’ love in action by all that we are,
say and do as we continue to grow toward Jesus’ likeness on our earthly journey. It’s
amazing to think of the ordinary moments of our lives represent God – every day, every
way; yet, it’s true!
Come, Holy Spirit! I’m praying for a fresh falling of the Holy Spirit on each of us as we
accept our part in God’s mission of reconciliation of all people and restoration of all
creation to him.
Barb Julian, Lay Leader
