Fall has come to Wyoming, with the change of weather and the trees changing color and shedding their foliage, we prepare ourselves for the cool, crisp days knowing winter is right around the corner. Thankfully, we have had a very mild summer, with few fires. The smoke is clearing out of the air, the temperatures are quickly falling, and we are in the full swing of school and church activities! In the wake of all the turmoil in the world we as a church are engaging in new ways to reach out to our community and the world. Through our giving to the United Methodist Church we are helping those who are rebuilding following all of the natural disasters here and around the world. As a Church we are also making changes, within the walls and within our hearts as we seek God’s path on the way forward. With open eyes, arms, and hearts let us rediscover what makes us a vibrant and faith-filled community. Please attend and invite others to experience all we have to offer as the family of God. We are hosting our Paying It Forward Fund dinner at the church on October 4^th, continuing the first Thursday theme into fall and beyond for this program to alleviate hunger in our schools. The 21^st will be our Laity Sunday and I will be at Orders Retreat the 15^th through the 18^th. We will end with Reformation Sunday on the 28^th. In the midst of all this, we must never forget our focus. The reason we do what we do, because Jesus loves us first. Jesus himself says to us through the scriptures: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:34-40

Our motivation is always to treat each other in such a way as to glorify God, to find ways to minster to, and with, “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine”. When we focus on Christ’s love and grace for us, we should be motivated to be His hands and feet. We humbly accept God’s gift to us; but the purpose of the gift is to pass it on, not to lock it up in our hearts but rather to release it into the world as purely as we possibly can. Let us boldly love, powerfully forgive, and gracefully engage with anyone and everyone. Peace be with you all, Amen.

Pastor Donnie Holt