My beloved Mt. Tam Church,
Lately, I have found that I’m receiving great joy from some of the smallest and seemingly mundane events in life. It’s the regularly scheduled events to which I am looking forward to, anticipating pleasure and fun is what leads to joy. Since these are recurrent events, that’s a consistent influx of joy. How wonderful is that?
Here are some of those “joy infusions:”
September 29: A fifth Sunday which offers us Intergenerational Worship, where the children and youth stay in church and worship is focused on all of us being children of God. These Sundays are always more casual and free—and every time, I find that the children are truly leading in the Spirit.
October 6: You never know who’s going to show up and what shenanigans will happen at the Blessing of the Animals after worship. This is a great Sunday to invite friends with their pets and animals to join in this practice in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. After worship in the front of the sanctuary….all those wagging tails are a guarantee to help you wag your tail too!
October 20: What else need I say: Pastor Dave Slorpe! I love this man—as do you—and when he preaches (opening up our Stewardship Season of “Treasure”), I feel the Spirit moving and joy come rushing in!
And believe it or not, it brings me joy to start teaching the book of Job in the Sunday morning Bible study! Job is the Bible’s message of hope in the real world of human pain and suffering.
First and third Sundays of the month—in October, October 6 and 20. 9 a.m. in the Lounge. Coffee guaranteed. I love to delve deeply into these rich and powerful texts of Biblical tradition and wisdom. You don’t need to be a Bible expert or student or even own a Bible to come! Just come!
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin has observed that “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” With all these occasions that bring joy, the presence of God is with us!
Peace,
Pastor Kim
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