Has it really been a month already? As I sit here writing August’s post, I find it hard to believe that much time has passed while at the same time feel like we have been partnering in ministry for a while now (In a good way!) In this short amount of time we have worshiped together, broke bread together, engaged in fellowship, community outreach, VBS, and began sharing youth activities with St. Andrews Parish UMC (SAP); and, I’ve visited a number of you at your homes. In August our home gatherings will take place (sign up if you have not already done so), we will work to get the Bible studies started back up soon, we will continue to worship together, engage in fellowship, community outreach, and joint youth activities. We will also be having a blessing of the backpacks as we get ready to send our young people and teachers back to school while also welcoming Lowcountry Christian Community School back to campus. While all of this is exciting (and just the beginning), it can be enough to make your head spin. Busyness is not a bad thing; however, when the busyness interferes with our relationship with God (even in the Church), or the busyness becomes a priority in our lives to where we make an idol of it, we need to remind ourselves that it is sometimes enough to simply sit at the feet of Jesus and listen.
Yes, I know, I covered this topic in my sermon based on the Mary and Martha text last month, but in our twenty-four hour world, I find this is a reminder we all need fairly often. There is always another phone call to make, note to send, email to write, meeting to plan, and person to visit. Yet, we also have family and friends that need our attention too, and we have to be intentional about our time for ourselves. If we are not intentional about our personal time in however we feel called to spend it, we will find we all too easily sacrifice our personal time on the altar of busyness. We easily forget the first thing God did and had us do the day after God created us. Rest (Genesis 2:1-3).
We were created to work from rest not rest from work. God intended for us to live in perfect community with one another and with God; however, our sinfulness entered into the picture and ruined paradise (Genesis 3). We continue to refuse paradise when we refuse to rest and treat worship as an optional activity. Rest and worship are an essential part of the human existence. It is in our rest and worship that we reconnect with ourselves, with our friends and family, and with God. If we do not take time to rest and worship, we find ourselves feeling isolated, alone, and worn out; furthermore, if we are not careful, we may even find ourselves trying to hide from God (Genesis 3:10).
Know this. You NEVER, EVER have to hide from God. God never equates you with the worst thing you have done. Regardless of whether or not you are resting and worshiping, or whether you are hiding, God sees you as one of God’s beloved children. There is nothing you can do to change that. The only choice you have in the matter is whether you will accept what I tell you as truth or not.
I get it. There are a million other things you could be doing on Sunday morning besides coming to worship that might ease your busyness or you might consider more restful. Additionally, you or your kids might find worship boring or tedious. If you have an idea for worship that you would find more engaging, I would love to hear about it. We were created to exist in a community of rest, fellowship, and worship. If we deny that to ourselves, we deny a part of our identity. Moreover, our presence in worship might just be the good news someone else needed to see on that particular Sunday. Our presence in worship can often times be more of a ministry than we ever realize.
This world is going to remain busy. Our lives together in ministry are gong to remain busy and quite possibly get busier. It is important for us to remember to rest and worship in the midst of our busyness so that we are working from rest rather than resting from work. Be intentional about your weekly sabbath rest. Make Sunday morning worship a priority in your week. Then let me know how you are feeling and if you are feeling any closer to God. Something tells me the busyness might not feel quite so pressing any more. I hope to see you Sunday!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Bryan
