Greetings Friends and Family of RRUMC,
Happy Thanksgiving!! What am I thankful for? That is easy as we approach the time of year when we sit back and remember all of God’s blessings and take time to be thankful for all of them in our lives.
You would think that it would be difficult to find those blessings in the midst of a global pandemic, social and racial unrest, and as I type this out on my computer, I just got back from standing in an hour and a forty-five minute line to vote at the Rocky River Civic Center. It is more important than ever to seek out those blessings that are all around us in the midst of the chaos. I believe that many times blessings are easier to spot when the world seems to be crumbling all around us.
I want to thank God for the amazing staff that I have been blessed to work with at RRUMC. I have learned that, for us as a staff, the “C” of COVID-19 stands for CREATIVITY. I have watched all of them come to life in so many new, and exciting, and creative ways.
When the coronavirus wave started to move across our country, I kept reminding our staff to just stay connected to the people in their area of ministry. No matter how we have to do it, stay connected.
We have seen Children’s Ministry craft bags for the kids and our families doing chalk drawings for some of our older members who have chosen to stay in and stay safe in the midst of the pandemic. We have held special services for Confirmation youth and for Bible Sunday for our 3rd graders and new confirmation students. Podcasts are being created by our Youth Director, Steven Young, and Pastor Paul.
Paul and I preached from the bed of a pick-up truck for the 8:30am parking lot service and then transitioned to preaching out of a second story window as winter weather is upon us.
The picture you see with this article is from the 8:30am parking lot service on All Saints Sunday. Each person was given a battery operated tea light to remember their loved one. Almost every person leaving that morning following the service had a tear in their eye. We are working on new ways to do Christmas Eve services and devoting a lot of hours to figure out how to safely and responsibly offer a 2021 Upward Sports season for our community.
This staff will stop at nothing to help all of you and your family meet Christ in the midst of your story. Those are just a few of the ways the “C” stands for creativity. When I found out I was coming to Rocky River, I asked my senior pastor from where I was servicing at the time what was the most difficult thing about leading a larger church? He, without skipping a beat, said, “Getting the right staff in the right place.” I can honestly say that it took 10 years, but I feel like God has put all the right people in the right place.
That is why I want to give thanks to God for the staff at RRUMC that I get to work with on a daily basis to help people meet Jesus Christ in the midst of their story. Thank you, LORD, for the staff at RRUMC.
What are you thankful for?
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dan