We made it to May! Isn’t that wonderful. Winter is almost always a challenge and this April, with frost and rain right in the middle of it, made the winter seem even longer. Now in May, we can look around our gardens and see signs that summer is on the way. We have birds nesting in the house on the tree and all kinds of flowers are making their way to bloom. For me, watching the leaves emerge from the trees and flowers bloom from what seemed to be dead earth, and new birds on the feeder indicates that God loves us. All this beauty shared with us.

  39 “He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.” Luke 22:39

Jesus spent time in the garden praying. It was the garden where he prayed his last night with the disciples. They were used to this place because Jesus felt close to the Father there. Jesus spent time with the Father on a regular basis. “As was his custom.” After he fed the five thousand, he prayed. Before he chose his disciples, he prayed. The night before he was betrayed, he prayed in the garden. He set the example for us.

As we enter into the busyness of the warmer days of the year, let’s not forget to spend time talking with God. As we plan our vacations, as we plan the garden, as we plan our activities, don’t leave prayer out. A good place to start would be to come to church. The church offers prayer time and time just to sit and listen as God speaks to us. It is an easy way to set aside time to communicate with God.

While you are making your plans this summer don’t forget our Love First capital campaign. Already the renovation of Fellowship Hall has been funded and underway. The revitalization of the Narthex is completely funded. The chairlift has been funded. The next phase is the funding for a new lift to allow access to Fellowship Hall. We can make all this happen with your help. Please consider your gift to the fund.

Give it a try.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Mark