Weekly Update // Will
Hi friends,
It’s hard to believe that we are almost halfway through June already, but here we are! I feel like there’s a slight collective breath we are taking, but then we are diving right into summer with camps, retreats, productions, and combined services. All really, really good things!
This Sunday, we are celebrating Father’s Day. Father’s Day has meant a lot of different things for me over the years as I have become a father myself. Initially, as a child, I thought it was odd that we had Father’s Day and Mother’s Day but never Kids or Children’s Day. I remember asking my parents once why that was, and they responded that every other day is Kid’s Day, which was pretty accurate. I think about the years following my father’s passing and how I hated Father’s Day. After all, it was a reminder of what I had lost, but then I sensed a shift when I realized what a blessing it was to have had a father who loved me so much that I was sad when he was gone, because I know that’s not always the case.
While I know that some of us had good dads, that wasn’t always the case, and that breaks my heart. I also know it is sometimes difficult for folks to see God as a father figure because of difficult relationships with their earthly father. I’m reminded of David’s words in Psalm 68 that call God “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.” (NLT) Reflecting on this, I find solace in knowing that God's fatherhood transcends our earthly experiences. His love and care are perfect and unchanging, offering a healing embrace to those who have felt the absence or pain of an imperfect father. In God, we can find the ultimate protector and provider, a divine parent whose compassion and justice are unwavering. This divine relationship invites us to experience a depth of love and security that earthly relationships may have lacked, reassuring us that we are never truly alone or unloved.
In whatever manner you celebrate Father’s Day, whether it’s one of mourning or jubilee, know that God is with you in those difficult moments. And to all the dads and father-like figures in our Asbury Community and family, we love you, celebrate you, and appreciate all you do to shape us into the people God has created us to be!
In the life of the church, we have plenty happening! In just a few weeks, we have the program of *Joseph* that Tamara and her team have been working on. We are also still collecting newspapers, magazines, and catalogues for Central Florida Wesley’s Craft Night. We’ve got our eyes on our June 30th combined service where our District Superintendent, the Reverend Dr. Sharon Austin, is preaching, with a potluck to follow. We’ve seen great success with these services and know this is going to be a great one as well! There’s plenty more happening in the life of the church. Be sure to check the bulletin, web page, and Facebook for all the happenings. Also, be sure to join us for worship as we continue our series on Faith and Doubt, where Pastor Chris will be exploring the Creation Story and asking the question, “What about Faith and Science?" which is a question I’m sure we’ve all asked at some point. Join us in person or online at either our 9:30 am Celebration/Contemporary Service or our 11:00 am Traditional Service!
God Bless, stay cool out there, and we will see you soon!
Pastor Will