Friday, May 29, 2009

Sunday is coming...

A great Pentecost service at Colonial Heights. We're going to have a Father blessing, Spirit descending, Saints hoping, Jesus glorifying good old time. This Pentecost we will celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples to make the church a reality, and the way the Spirit still blesses and directs the church. In particular we will reconsecrate our sanctuary with the improvements of the past several months: new technology additions in sound, video, recording and lighting, new paint, new floors, new chancel space and Spirit filled folks. Insipired by the scriptures of John 4.23-34; Revelation 21.10-11, 22-25; and Psalms 100 and 122, we will be blessed with the Spirit's presence and fed by Word and Sacrament. A prayer for Sunday:

Holy Spirit of truth, you proceed from the Father and the Son and we glorify you. Fill our worship with your presence, pour out on us the fire of Pentecost in this place, and in our lives, so that we may proclaim the glory and honor of God and of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. All praise to you, our one Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009



Recently the Knoxville District secretary sent out a notice that she is in the process of compiling an on line directory for all the UMCs of the district. She requested a current picture of each local church to be sent for this purpose. I took this picture on a mostly cloudy May afternoon. I am not sure when the district directory will be done, but I wanted to share this picture now. Colonial Heights is, and will always be, one of my favorite places in the world. The end of June will see a change in pastoral leadership for the congregation and these past 9 years have been such an important time for me. I hate to leave! But it is a blessing to leave on good terms when we are all wanting more time.