A Month Worth Celebrating

Beloved of Highland Hills,

Can you feel it? It's the time of year when things are starting the gradual shift to summer. Although in the case of the weather this month, it hasn't always felt gradual when we have neared the 90s. The kids in my life (and in our church!) seem to have ants in their pants with the hopes of playing outside more. Even adults have a glimmer in their eyes as they discuss their upcoming summer travel. Even for those of us who do not live by the school calendar, I can tell the winds of change are coming. Now if only they will bring some rain with them.

In our worship together we are about to enter into what I think of internally as our month of celebration. Worship this time of year is always so much fun. Like for example, this week in worship we have the delight of recognizing our many different graduates and honoring our retirees in worship. This Sunday afternoon, we will again host Rise Against Hunger. And talk about celebration--I've never done something both so happy and helpful at the same time. If you haven't already made plans to come next Sunday, please do!

Then, next week our church has the honor of ordaining our very own Cameron Schroeder to the gospel ministry. We all have had the joy of watching Cameron grow into her understanding of her calling to ministry. It will be a good Sunday!

The weeks that follow include Mother's Day, communion, a baby dedication, and all of a sudden we find ourselves at Memorial Day. We don't always see it in our busy days, but we as a body of believers have much to be thankful for. We have so many lives worth celebrating in our intergenerational church, and it is a gift to recognize these milestones together. In our sadness and in our joy, we are the body of Christ for one another.

So as we start our month of celebrating, I offer this question: where else do you see the joy of God breaking into your life? What moments in your days are worth celebrating?

Thanks be to God for these moments!

Grace and peace,

Caitlin