From John Ross Thompson June 16, 2009

In my sermon last Sunday, I called this the scattering season. It was a play on words since I was talking about planting, but it is also a different kind of scattering.

Ever since MSU and LCC finished their spring classes, and especially now that the public schools are out for the summer, our members and friends are scattering to the four corners of Michigan, and beyond. Some of the church meetings we’ve tried to have in the last few weeks have been cancelled because people were not available to attend them.

This is good! This time in our culture is a time when we break from the schedules of the school season, spend more time outdoors, and, if we can, travel to other places. Some of us have cottages near lakes, have favorite spots we like to visit, or spend more time with family and friends.

It is a time of refreshment and renewal. Even if you cannot leave work or other responsibilities to go somewhere else, I hope that the long, warm summer days find you filling your time with things that bring new life to you.

I will be away, too, for several trips of a few days each, mostly with family members we don’t get to see very often. In this wonderful day of cell phones and email, however, Pastor Kennetha and I are very accessible and will do all we can to continue to meet pastoral needs during these days of summer. Please, do not hesitate to call us or the church at any time of need.

I hope you find the scattering season renewing for your personal spiritual life, for our community and world, and for our church. Worship with us whenever you can and remember that this more relaxed time of the year is a great time to bring friends and relatives to church, and to be especially hospitable to the many visitors who come to UUMC. Our informal 9 a.m. worship every Sunday in the Memorial Garden is a favorite of many persons, and we always have a 10:30 a.m. worship service in our air-conditioned sanctuary.

Many of you are also very faithful in bringing or sending your offerings to the church, even during the times like this summer season when you are away. This makes a big difference to us in this tight economy.

Jesus, too, went away from the crowds to pray, to rest, and to find renewal. My prayer for you, even as I do the same thing myself, is that you will find God’s grace and love in new ways during these months.