Reflection
Last week in the Reflection I offered some blessings and things I am grateful for about Coolwater. I ended it with to be continued. So here we go, with more about what I am grateful for at Coolwater.
One of the great joys I have experienced is the opportunity to work weekly with Sonya Tinault on worship. Each Sunday morning I confer with her on pictures to include in the sermon presentation. I find pictures at home and bring them in on a flashdrive. Sonya and I then talk through the images. I value her input about which pictures fit best on Sunday mornings.
Sonya has a unique talent for creating amazing worship displays. We regularly see her creative talents as she decorates the communion table for weekly worship. Give Sonya a theme or an idea and prepare to be amazed with displays that draw you into the spirit of worship. Displays that fit the theme and the message in ways that are visually stimulating and help the worshipper reflect. Sonya also utilizes the wall behind the communion table with extraordinary effect, as well as other parts of our worship space.
On a much bigger scale, Sonya’s amazing talents designed the sets for the Drive-thru Nativity in 2021 and 2022. Those stations were marvels to behold, and made the Drive-thru Nativity a rich, meaningful experience. I am in awe of her creative talents that brought the scenes to life. I will always remember the extraordinary sight of the angel in the air by the shepherds and the elegance of the wiseman’s tent.
The people of Coolwater. I could go on for pages and pages about this blessing. In short, we have built a bond that is unique. We have known the blessing of being church people who care deeply for others. Church people who look to be involved in service and compassionate, caring ministry.
I have been a part of Coolwater since January of 2008. My time at Coolwater has concluded with the unexpected experience of being a pastor of a congregation once again. I am grateful beyond words to express for the opportunity to serve Coolwater in this way. This journey with Coolwater has been a blessing to my faith. It has been a rewarding and affirming experience for me as a follower of Jesus and as a pastor in Christ’s service. I have been blessed by you in so many ways.
On Sunday “What Coolwater Means to Me” featured Mansoor Rowhani and Dick Huggins. Mansoor’s words told about his own remarkable faith journey to being a believer in Christ. Dick offered an extraordinary reflection about the experience of the Christian journey using the TV show Wagon Train as a metaphor for our journey together. Yes, the Christian journey is both deeply personal and an experience that we share together.
As we go through life being a follower of Jesus, we touch lives. We help to make a difference. We will not see all the ways we have made an impact. But we can know that our living and serving in the name of Christ has made a difference. That is what we have done at Coolwater together. That is what Coolwater has done for 20 years of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. That is what you will continue to do as you go to new places to live out the next chapter in your Christian journey. And you go with all that Coolwater has helped you to become as a disciple of Christ. Thanks be to God!
Blessings!
Pastor Rick