Most of us would like to believe that joy is a by-product of a good day. The opposite is true: if you choose to claim the joy that is yours as a child of God, then you will have a good day! William Barclay wrote: “We are chosen for joy. However hard the Christian way, it is both in the traveling and in the goal, the way of joy.”
Joy, simply put, is realizing who and whose we are: children of the living God.
Paul, the greatest missionary of all time, writes about “pressing on toward the goal.” Join us this Sunday as we continue to study the book of Philippians, known as the epistle of joy.
Part of joy is celebration! Join me in celebrating this week:
HOME GATHERINGS UPDATE: The first five home gatherings were held this week in the homes of some of our members. Thank you to our hosts and all who attended! Groups shared joys from their connection with Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church and hopes and dreams for the future. The information gleaned from these gatherings will be instrumental in bringing shape to the vision that we will share during a Vision Week/Weekend this fall. Please sign up and participate in one of these gatherings this summer. Pastor Doug and I want to listen and learn from you.
SUMMER IMPACT UPDATE: Our congregation hosted missions teams this week from Arcola UMC in Illinois, Bethel UMC, and Water’s Edge UMC. 9 adults and 43 youth participated with us. They served at Stepping Stones, New Life Furniture, Hyde Park Center for Older Adults, the Downtown Campus of HPCUMC, Lakota Lakes Literacy Program, MEAC, Wesley Community’s Meals on Wheels program, Center for Respite Care, and Wesley Chapel Mission Center. Thanks to everyone who has stepped up to serve this week and enable these youth and adults to make a difference in our community.
May God help you to choose joy this week – no matter what comes your way – as you embrace your identity as a child of God!
Peace,
Pastor Cathy Johns