Yes, I am aware it is the middle of November, and I am just now getting the November newsletter out. I am sorry for the delay. It has been a busy season in the life of the Church at Cokesbury UMC. Busyness for the sake of busyness is rarely a good thing; however, busyness for the kingdom of God, is a great thing. I like to think between the community events, seasonal ministries, and our annual charge conference that our busyness has been kingdom work and just a foretaste of the busyness to come.
Through your generous support, our kingdom busyness has only gotten busier as the Advent season approaches. Not only do we continue to support Holy City Missions financially in their work with the homeless and those in need of resources, but we are continuing two traditional Cokesbury holiday ministries while picking up a third that is near and dear to my heart. We are continuing to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need while also collecting for gift cards to help out additional families with Christmas expenses. In addition to these holiday ministries, we are working with Camp Happy Days to provide presents for five children who are living with pediatric cancer in their families. In each of these ministries we are doing meaningful work in showing love for our neighbors; however, I am convinced that God has even more busyness in store for Cokesbury UMC in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. What does that look like? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we will continue to discern together what God is calling us to do as kingdom workers in North Charleston and beyond.
When I say together, I do not just mean the good people of Cokesbury, but also the people of The United Methodist Church, and the people of the Church Universal. I am happy to report that North Hope Cooperative Ministries which consists of several area UMC churches (including Cokesbury) is continuing to explore ways in which we can serve the needs of the North Charleston community together. In addition to outreach ministries, we are also going to be participating in community Lenten services in the upcoming year. The United Methodist Church continues to provide aid to war torn and natural disaster stricken areas along with advocating for those whom society has disadvantaged. Together, the Church, regardless of denomination, continues to call Jesus, Lord, and works to share his message of God’s good news with a hurting world.
Kingdom work can be headline garnering activities like participating in civil rights marches or providing relief to areas devastated by natural disasters or human conflict. Kingdom work can also be helping worshipers feel the movement of the Holy Spirit in worship by joining the choir, or it can be visiting, dropping a note in the mail, or calling one of our shut-ins to remind them that they are loved and they are missed. I mention these two ministries specifically because I know Ken is always looking for more voices, and I am looking to implement a visitation ministry team in the very near future. If you feel like God is prompting you to join either or both of these ministries, then I encourage you to reach out to me.
As we enter the season of Advent at the end of this month, we will enter a time of waiting and remembrance for God to act in an unprecedented way. Emmanuel, God with us, reminds us that God not only knows us and loves us, but that God knows what it means to be us (Matthew 1:23). As busy as our lives normally can be, and as busy as they get to be during the holiday season, I imagine our busyness is still a drop in the bucket compared to the busyness of creating and ordering the universe. If God can take time out of God’s busy schedule to show the world how much God loves it, what new and unprecedented ways can we discern God calling us to be workers in the kingdom in the upcoming year?
I do not know what the answers will be, but I look forward to continuing to discern them with you all trusting that the Holy Spirit is leading our way. As John prepared the way for the Lord, I hope this Advent season is one that prepares each of us to welcome Jesus into our lives again and prepares us to participate in kingdom of God busyness (Matthew 3:3). Together; locally, regionally, nationally, and globally, we can be bringers of wonderful, joyous news for all people (Luke 2:10b).
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Bryan