Welcome to summer! June is the month when the kids are all out of school, the weather is generally nice and when, of course, we have our Annual Conference. This year is a very special Annual Conference as it is the first one when the Rocky Mountain Conference and the Yellowstone Conference will be meeting together! For many years we have shared our bishop with Yellowstone and now as we move toward joining into one Annual Conference this will be a big step in meeting with one another and getting to know our brothers and sisters from the north. As we prepare for this possible change it reminds me of how we are constantly changing and staying the same, we may change some of our organizational structure as a Church but we remain solidly founded in our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior and the mission to make disciples. At a local level we need to continue to reach out to our community in every way possible. Let us support one another in these endeavors as we feel the wind of the Spirit move us in new ways! We have an opportunity at the First Thursday events through the summer to raise money by serving sandwich plate dinners, the supplies and food being graciously donated, which will most certainly raise some funds. This will also raise some awareness as we who serve the food wear our church T-shirts and hand out our invitation cards to those folks who are maybe hungrier for more than a sandwich. But this is only one aspect of this opportunity to serve our community; I was reminded of what Jesus said,

“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)

We are called to do great things in our everyday lives, simple things like sharing a meal with one another and inviting others to take part. To donate our time and resources to ensure people can feel some comfort and love when they feel lost and lonely. To forgive when we are wronged and to make all of these things second nature to us, so we may be among the Savior’s blessed ones.

Pastor Donnie