Worship with a fresh perspective

Last weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Camp Lutherwood in Utah. This trip has become a CLC tradition over the past few years. Youth and families are invited to experience the wonder of creation and the joy of community. Personally, I have really come to value the perspective this time brings. Instead of gathering in the basement of the church, the youth come together around a campfire to sing, eat s'mores, and share a message of hope. We also take time to go on some epic hikes. It's a wonderful trip... Even if some of the youth complained that I chose a hike that may have been just a little too long :) 

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was sitting outside together in the evening. The deer would walk by, and the stars would come out. After being surrounded by city lights, it's easy to forget how bright the stars can be. Every night we would look up to see the Milky Way, and even though the temperature dropped down to 38 degrees, we didn't want to leave the moment. We sat together, huddled in our jackets and sleeping bags, and we embraced the beauty of the world around us.  

There are so many different ways to worship. We can sing. We can read scripture. We can stand on top of a mountain or sit around a campfire. The important part of all of this is that we take time to come together and we cherish the blessings we have. There is so much to give thanks for in our lives, but sometimes we are too busy or tired to remember this. Worship is all about pushing ourselves to experience God's Grace in fresh new ways. When we come together as a community, and God shows up. 

Today I hope you can spend some time intentionally in worship. I hope you can find a community and open yourselves up to the work of the Spirit.

Blessings,

Brian Ward

Gathered in Joy

Last Wednesday we kicked off family night at CLC. It was wonderful to see preschool kids join together with older youth to play games, sing songs, and build new relationships. Even though there is quite a difference between a 20 year old and a 3 year old, I see a lot of blessings when they all come together. Kids and adults are all welcome to be who they are, and they can find there own ways to serve and experience God's Love. I believe God's Grace is best experienced when we come together.  

In the Bible, Jesus speaks of the importance of finding a community. Pharisees were called to find a place at the table with the sinners and tax collectors. The wealthy and powerful were called to sit with the the sick and the sorrowing. Everyone has a place, and everyone is valued. In our sermon series this month, we are taking a deeper look at joy. It is easy for our hearts to be filled with anxiety, fear, and even anger. However, this series asks us to fill our hearts with joy. God values each person. I hope we can let go of the fears in our past and enter into something new.

The Biblical letter to the Philippians, is a book filled with joy. It tells us that whatever we are facing, we also have a new life in Christ. We are told that if we want to let go of our past difficulties, we need to find a community. We need a place where we honor one another. We need a place where we can be honest, and we need a place where we can be united and filled with God's Love.

Today I hope you can take time for some of the relationships in your life. Perhaps you can give a family member or a friend a call. Maybe you can find a new place to serve. Maybe you can just say hi to your neighbor. God is present everywhere we go, and we are a people who share God's love when we come together.

Blessings!

Brian