As we read the story in Genesis of the creation, the phrase: “And God saw that it was good” appears time and again. No matter what ‘day’, what stage of creation; whether heavens, earth, seas, plants, or animals - it was all good.

We are reminded that what God creates is never junk - and that includes us! We have been created as precious, beloved, and good. We may make mistakes, or sometimes act like defiant children, but God is continually at work in our lives to bring opportunities for the ‘good’ which is creation to be seen and known.

One of the steps we will be taking over the time we are in ministry together will be reflecting on the ‘days’ of this congregation’s creation, especially the last two decades - and pronouncing them good. For if we believe in God’s continuing presence and guidance in the Church, the journey which has brought us all together in this time and place has been of our Lord’s design. (Of course, there are always a few ‘side trips’ from the straight & narrow - that’s part of being human and having free will).

Yet if we believe (and we do!) that a loving God is intimately connected with and active in every part of our lives; that God is more interested in us - who we are and whose we are - than we ever dared believe, and that God is working for good in everything, then we also know that this time of searching for the next direction in which God will lead this congregation can be a special ‘day’ in our congregational life. This is a time when we can pause in our journey of faith & ministry, and look around at all of the exciting opportunities to grow in our knowledge of God and develop our witness of faith - and then, together, choose the next path.

Phil