07.15.2020 Devotional
Greetings Friends,
“For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating.” - Isaiah 65:17-18
I recently had a birthday which places me really close to retirement age. The odd thing is that most of my clergy colleagues are my age or older. The good news is that younger people are continuing to join the UM church. This makes me quite happy. Still, I'm troubled by the lack of younger voices in the room and at the table when decisions about the future of churches, or denominations, are being made.
The decisions being made today are ones that will shape their church of the future. Those who are younger are often called the "future of the church", yet, no one seems to be listening to what the ones who will inherit this church think.
In Isaiah God tells us that God is creating something new, and that we should rejoice and be glad for that. I believe God is doing something new in churches and denominations too. Our response to the pandemic should give us an idea of just how much change we are capable of, even though we didn’t want to make these changes. The thing is, new times call for new measures, and church is not about my preferences, it is about God’s purpose. I am pretty sure that the church that exists at the end of my life will look radically different than the church of my childhood or even the one that exists now.
That doesn’t scare me. That excites me. And wherever God is leading, I'm going to follow.
I don't know what the future church will look like exactly, but I do hope to be there as it is brought to life. And so, I'm drawing on the wisdom of the elders I've had who have taught me to listen to younger voices by listening to mine. I'm starting to look at the next generations, and I'm eagerly listening to what they have to say, and I am trying my best to be an encourager. I pledge my support to this next generation of God-followers because I believe that God will use them to create something worth our joy, and I want to be a part of it.
Prayer
God, help us to see what you are about to do, and help us empower the ones you are going to use to do your work. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Denise
Prayer Request:
Dolores Todd - Prayers for My husband and family, for my country, for the end of this pandemic and the virus. For our President.
