Consecration Sunday is on November 10. Please join us for worship on November 10, either at the 8:30am Chapel Service or at the 10:00am combined Harbor/Sanctuary Service. It is at those two services that we will all have the opportunity to bring forward our “Estimate of Giving” cards that will have the financial number that God has placed on each of our hearts following our prayerful conversations with God about what He is calling us to give to the mission and ministries of RRUMC in 2025.

I thank you in advance for the overwhelming generosity you continue to shower upon this church and its ministries. “It’s all about the story! We exist to help people meet Jesus Christ in the midst of their story.” We are doing that because of you. I believe! Now help my unbelief! Thank you.

In Romans 8:28, Paul says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I watched God work for good in the midst of a very difficult time for many people. It has reminded me to not only be aware that God brings the most incredible miracles out of difficult situations, but to search for the miracles in those situations.

RRUMC, you are my family. Thank you for carrying me for the last 13 years. I hope we have many more years together as we love each other into our mission: “It’s all about the story. We exist to help people meet Jesus Christ in the midst of their story.” Thank you for being such a blessing in my story. I love you, church.

Jesus calls us to worship God and God alone. In this text, he doesn’t say how or what is exactly the “right” way to worship. Jesus just tells us to worship God. There is nothing more we can do to show God how much we love Him than to worship Him.

Have you taken in spring in Cleveland? These are just a tiny sample of the pings that God is sending you every day. You are already experiencing them. I am asking you to hear and see them as God directly sending his transmission to you. How will you respond?

Friends, God is calling us to our Samarias, to our “desert roads”, in much the same way He did Philip. To whom and to where is God specifically calling you?

As you read this, we are now in the wake of the Easter Sunday celebrations, the spring break get aways, and hopefully some warm sunny weather will start to be the norm and not the exception.

This year, Paul and I want you to think of something else as you walk through your Lenten season. Even though we are already into the season, it is not too late to give it a try. Instead of just giving something up, how about PICKING SOMETHING UP? How about picking up a time of prayer, fasting, committing to weekly church attendance, making sure you take communion, and other practices of faith. Is there one of those that you can pick up instead of just dropping something else?