Summer has arrived and all the gardeners are out doing their thing. Now for many United Methodists, this is of course a time of pastoral change. For those that may not know, United Methodist pastors are appointed by the Bishop and appointive cabinet. So, for many pastors like me and for congregations this is a time of change.
I think we as human beings detest change not for the "changes" it brings but because we fail to see the grace of God in that change. Grace does allow us to bend but it also allows us God to bend us as well; I know that for me that is a difficult thing to allow. I believe very much in the appointive system; that is to say, I believe in the theology behind it. In theory the appointive system is suppose to allow 1 church 1 pastor at least. However the theology behind it, the process of appointments is very much a God thing, very much a prayer thing, very much a chance for grace. And with that grace, allowing the Spirit to move us to new and better things, we get moved by God to do more with little in some instances.
About a year ago I started to collect my change. Each time I would get coffee or after any purchase I would always save my change, I put it into a coffee can. The goal was to fill that can however it never seem to get filled; so after it was about half full I would take the change into the bank and donate that money to the church as an offering. I used this idea as a stewardship illustration because we don't realize how much money we waste throwing out our change.
Yes, I think "change" is definitely a chance for GRACE!
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff Bixby
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