April 25, 2022
“The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning,
as sure as the sunrise.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23 GNT
Back on March 2, the day before Ash Wednesday, the pastors who are a part of the Woodstock Minister’s Association gathered for our monthly meeting at a different location, Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center in Fort Valley. Following our meeting, we gathered on a field to video the Easter Sunrise Service that we would share with our churches.
Aside from a bit of background noise from a nearby road, and gusty winds, it was a lovely day, with blue skies that contrasted with the tall pines in the background. Rev. Nate Robinson from Emanuel Lutheran used his cell phone to record, and graciously agreed to put it all together.
On Easter Sunday morning, as I was getting ready to attend the KOLA class Bible study before our worship service, I got a text message from a friend who lives in PA. She follows St. Paul’s UCC sermons and meditations on our website. She and a couple friends were camping that weekend. The park had advertised an early morning Easter Sunday Service, but no one showed up to lead it for the eleven campers were present. My friend had seen our Woodstock Ministers’ Association Sunrise Service on our church website earlier in the morning, so she spontaneously showed it to the campers. In her text she wrote: “We enjoyed Woodstock’s Sunrise Service. Shared with fellow campers looking for a service this morning. It was beautiful. God happened in that moment through Woodstock ministry. Thank you,”
It never occurred to me on March 2, that a group of campers on Easter Morning, April 17, would be blessed through what we were doing. “The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.”
Great is your faithfulness, God. ~ Anne
P.S. When you read this my spouse and I should be in Luzerne, Switzerland on the first leg of a trip to celebrate his retirement 2 years ago, thanks to COVID delays. I will post as I am able and ask for your kind thoughts and prayers along the way. Trusting in God’s faithfulness, in all things.
Wayfinding 