Peace be with you, my friends.
There is a church saying in Evangelical circles. The saying might be worded differently from one congregation to the next, but the essence and spirit of the saying is the same. It comes in the form of prayers, sermons, and even music. That saying is “I welcome God into this place.” Now, I understand the point of the saying. However, the saying has never sat with me well. The word “welcome” connotes invitation. It denotes greeting. So, to say that “we welcome God into this place”, it just seems too focused on the self. As though we “own” this or that space and are inviting God into that space.
In contrast to this saying, I believe a better way of saying this phrase is by declaring that God welcomes us into this place. God welcomes us into God’s space. God welcomes us into the sacredness of God’s Presence and Being. Afterall, God pervades creation. There is nowhere where God is not. In this way, we cannot invite God, nor welcome God, for God is already there.
That Truth bespeaks to a Reality. We do not invite God to journey with us. Rather, God invites us to journey with God. It is not about inviting God to take part in our life, but rather, God inviting us to take part in the Divine life. Or, in more simpler terms, God invites us to walk with God.
That reality is reflected in the life of Enoch, where we are told that Enoch walked with God. That will be my focus this Sunday as I begin a new Sermon Series on “Kingdom living, day by day.”
You can prepare for this service, June 25, 2023, by reading
Gen. 5: 21-24.
Naples Trinity Federated Church is located at 123 N. Main Street, Naples, NY, 14512;
And you can live stream the service at 9am, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064568507595
Dansville United Methodist Church is located at 5 Chestnut Ave., Dansville, NY, 14437;
And you can live stream the service at 11am,
https://www.facebook.com/DvilleUMC/
OR DUMC website @ www.dansvilleumc.org
With compassion, love, and prayer,
Reverend Michael
