Psalm 133
133:1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
133:2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
April 11 marked the anniversary of the most significant journey in my life. It has been 20 years since I started serving God and God’s church as a pastor. I am still reflecting on this journey I never thought I would take. In my years of service, I have started and ended different cycles. Each cycle has given me joy, life-changing learnings, and challenges that have stretched me and helped me grow.
On March 11, Bishop Shelton announced new Cabinet appointments, including my appointment as Executive Director of Connectional Ministries. I am humbled and honored for this opportunity and excited to start a new cycle on July 1, 2024, serving God and God’s people. At the same time, I will greatly miss being in ministry with the Heritage District, and as I end my cycle as Heritage District Superintendent, I will use my message this week and the message in June to reflect on my experiences. I will share how these four years have given me joy, life-changing learnings, unlearning, and how I was stretched and grew during this time.
In my first year as DS, I experienced joy through the sense of collaboration and support I received as I settled into this ministry. However, I soon realized that there were many things I did not know. Consequently, I learned to rely more fully on God and not on my gifts and abilities. I learned to trust more in my colleagues in the cabinet, the Conference office, and the clergy and laity in the Heritage district. I also unlearned to react quickly to what came to me and instead trusted that pausing, praying, reflecting, and discerning before acting is more effective.
As an enneagram 9, “peacemaker,” I was stretched when I was called to mediate amid conflict between churches and pastors. I was also pushed when we went through the painful season of disaffiliation. However, the spirit of collaboration and unity in the Cabinet and the Conference was crucial to enduring that season.
Psalm 133 is a beautiful reminder of how good it is to live as brothers and sisters in unity. Although it is hard to exemplify unity and reconciliation, it is worth it and what God wants. God desires for God’s creation to be united and for God’s church to model living in unity. God desires for God’s world to be redeemed by being reconciled with God and one another. During my time as DS, I have grown in my conviction that we should seek unity and model what it means to be reconciled with God and one another; let’s continue living in the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Thank you, Heritage clergy and laity, for the gift you have been in my journey of life and ministry.
Let’s pray: “God of unity and reconciliation, help us embrace the beauty of living together as siblings in Jesus’ resurrecting power. Amen.”
Photo credit: Lightstock.com – Linda Bennett – id#742382