God the Father creates and sustains you. Jesus Christ saves you through his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit binds you together in love and gives you peace. The Spirit of God helps you in your weaknesses, intercedes for you, and knows you. The rushing wind of God, the Holy Spirit, breathes onto you and gives you the gift of life in Christ. The first Sunday of this month is Pentecost Sunday.
God has formed and changed me through the ministry of Ewalu Bible Camp. The first time I attended Ewalu Bible Camp, I was nine years old. I remember that as soon as my parents left me in this strange wilderness with a bunch of strangers to take care of me, I felt alone, afraid, and ready to go home. However, God is present in every place of need. God was present with me in my first week at Ewalu.
Lent is a forty-day journey where we prayerfully prepare for Jesus’ death and resurrection. We do many things as a community to take part in the prayerfulness of this season. This year we gather on Wednesday evenings to share a meal provided by our youth. After our time of fellowship, we will hold a time of song and prayer, using the Holden Evening Prayer. This is a worship service from a Christian retreat center in the mountains of Washington state.
I regularly make a habit of reading new books. I especially like to remain inside with a good book to avoid the outside tundra. My goal is always to be learning and growing. For example, this last fall, I read a book about youth ministry called “The End of Youth Ministry: Why Parents Don’t Really Care about Youth Groups and What Youth Workers Should Do About It” by Andrew Root.
Merry Christmas!
Yes, I know it is January. Did you think that Christmas has come and gone? I am here to remind you that Christmas is a season that is twelve days long. We have the opportunity to celebrate the mystery of our God being born a human baby until January 6th.
This Christmas, I witnessed the Holy Spirit gather so many people together for worship and fellowship.