This past week Heather and I attended District Days, which is where our Holston Conference Bishop, Debra Wallace Padgett, travels to every district in our conference and shares in meetings, fellowship, and worship with any clergy and laity who come.
Last year the Bishop was here at Gate City UMC for 2 services, a morning and an evening, and this year she was in Kingsport in the morning, and then Big Stone Gap in the evening.I suppose that going to hear the Bishop for some people isn't a real exciting thing, after all, this is pretty new for a Bishop to do. Most Bishops that I have had have not been able to be this intentional about meeting people in the conference, or just unable to do due to other demands.
Heather and I were blessed by this time in conversational fellowship, sharing in worship and Holy Communion at Mayfair UMC, and hearing Bishop Wallace-Padgett share her heart and vision for the United Methodist Church and a reminder of who we are as the Church in Jesus, who is the source of our hope.
So, today, that's what I wanted to remind you of. Jesus is your hope. If you're reading a church newsletter you probably already know that. But sometimes reminders are a good thing. Yesterday our Lay Leader, KC Linkous, preached a great sermon for Laity Sunday on the strength we find in Christ during our suffering. And Heather's Children's Message focused in on how, with Jesus, we can carry hard things in our life, but without Jesus it's too much for us.
Jesus is your hope.
Wherever you find yourself today, and whatever you find yourself doing today, remember this. If things seem too hard to carry today, you don't have to. Jesus is your hope and strength. If you feel like you're facing too much today, remember that Jesus is your hope and shield. If you feel tired (weary and heavy laden) today, remember that Jesus is your hope and rest.
And in this hope, may you be blessed today, in Jesus name.
