Dear Edgeboro Friends & Family,
As I write this, I’m looking out of my office window at the church at the biggest open space of grass the church has on its property. It’s a nice “front yard,” but it’s not perfect. It’s not the biggest lot compared to what some other churches have and if you look closely, you’ll see that it’s not all grass (there’s a lot of weeds), there’s a dead spot where nothing will grow near the stairs coming from the parking lot, the slope from the parking lot and the sidewalk and lights provide obstacles at time for a tent or a game to be played, and there’s a mysterious divot/hole right in the middle of the lot.
This grassy area is not perfect, and yet I’ve seen it used to the fullest on many occasions: each summer, kids flood the area to play games during Vacation Bible School; the Girl Scouts that meet here in the evenings during the school year use it for outdoor games frequently; it has been the spot where hundreds of worshippers have gathered on Sundays past; and on July 15th, it was the site of a rummage sale that helped us raise over $1,000 for the homeless (see the update further on in this newsletter).
This month, as it has been in the past, this will also be the site where hundreds gather during our Ice Cream Festival for a time of great food, fun, and fellowship. (Speaking of that event, I hope you can join us, whether volunteering or simply attending, on our “front yard” the evening of August 23rd.)
Yes, the grass has its imperfections, but it is still used to bring glory to God in many wonderful ways that bring joy to so many others.
Isn’t that like us? Don’t we all have our own imperfections? Maybe we’re too proud, too stubborn or too busy. Maybe our temper’s a little short, our organization could use some work, or we don’t always have the right words to say.
And yet, with our imperfections and all, we, too, can be used to bring glory to God in many wonderful ways that bring joy to so many others. What might that look like for us?
I never knew I had so much in common with the church’s front lawn, and now that I’ve given it some thought, I know I’ll be thinking about God’s grace and calling for me the next time I walk across that grass. May you have the same experience there too.
Finding holy places with you,
Pastor Dan