Through Stained Glass: Celebrating With a Smile

 Friends,

My heart is full.

As I took my morning run on this fabulous Monday, I found myself smiling a lot.

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the life of our church. Not only because we received seven new friends into the fold but also because we saw so many familiar faces back in our sanctuary.

I was smiling because the CE Building was set up for a celebration for the first time in a long time. We were breaking bread [okay, it was cake], sharing cup [our Ministry of the Heart team filled our cups with a pleasing punch], and being present to one another by way of our fellowship.

I’m still smiling as I reflect on the beauty of yesterday. Indeed, grace is amazing, and so is the love of God flowing in and through each of you.

I’m smiling because as we conversed over pastries and punch, a handful of kiddos played upstairs. And they made a holy mess with their creations—a name tag that’ll hang on a door, a necklace for their dad on Father’s Day, and a clay figurine from their latest favorite video game. The laughter of children will make the Grinch smile on a Sunday in June.

Y’all, the smile won’t go away. And I’m okay with that because yesterday was beautiful! It was like a veil was pulled back, and we saw the reign of Love, even if for a moment. We prayed, we celebrated, and we played!

Thank you, church, for the ways you are leaning into this new season. Thank you, church, for bearing witness to the love of God in Christ by the way you are letting the Spirit lead you deeper into a relationship with one another. You all are a gift! And for you, I’m thankful!

Below is a poem by the late Irish poet and mystic John O’Donohue. It is titled “For Celebration.”

Now is the time to free the heart,

 Let all intentions and worries stop,

 Free the joy inside the self,

 Awaken to the wonder of your life.

Open your eyes and see the friends,

 Whose hearts recognize your face as kin,

 Those whose kindness watchful and near,

 Encouraging you to live everything here.

See the gifts the years have given,

 Things your effort could never earn,

 The health to enjoy who you want to be

 And the mind to mirror mystery.

I also include photos from last week’s challenge to celebrate! (Not all photos are included here. Some were selfies of church friends celebrating anniversaries, as well as personal accomplishments and overcoming fears!)