When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Luke 2:39-40
While it may feel like time slows to a crawl when we are waiting for something to end, or that the hours vanish in eye blinks when we are enjoying ourselves, we trust, logically, that time always moves at the same speed. The dates we circle on the calendar months in the future have a habit of showing up as scheduled. Sometimes we are prepared; sometimes we are not.
Joseph and Mary took Jesus home to Nazareth. He built relationships, learned skills, and caused his parents stress as kids sometimes do. (Luke 2:48) Then, when it was time, he went to John the Baptist and set this unexpected plan of salvation into motion. Joseph may not have been ready; Mary, who “treasured all these things” as Jesus was growing up “in her heart” (Luke 2:51) may not have been ready. Still, the time came, and Jesus went.
Here at Flemington UMC it’s time to get started with a new year of Christian education, including our first Confirmation class in my time here. Our existing ministry teams are dipping toes into new, less familiar waters; new ministry teams will be formed shortly to help us extend our impact to our neighbors and beyond. It’s all happening, right here, as we speak, ready or not.
This Sunday, September 8th, is an opportunity to learn from committee and ministry team leads in our first Ministry Fair in Fellowship Hall. It’s an opportunity to see refurbished Sunday School rooms and to give thanks for the good, generous work that went into making those possible. It’s an opportunity to eat a burger with your church family and spend some nice time outside. Ready or not, you are invited, welcome, belong, and can go deeper in faith and love here at Flemington UMC in the year ahead.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ben
A Place Where All the Pieces Fit