Devotional from Pastor Dave January 31, 2024

What a joy it was this past Sunday to host our resident bishop, Debra Wallace-Padgett, to Signal Crest! She preached in both of our worship services, and she shared a special greeting with our confirmation class, which kicked off this past Sunday, too, during her tour of the church between the services. Her husband Lee and son Andrew joined us for the sanctuary service. Lee is a retired deacon, and he was Ruth Farrimond’s youth director in Arkansas when she was growing up. It was a treat to see them reconnect. Methodism is all about making connections!

I went back through the church history book from 1997 to see if a resident bishop had ever visited Signal Crest, and I couldn’t find clear confirmation that one had. Bishop Mack Stokes is listed as having visited the church, but it’s unclear whether that was before or after he was elected bishop. Suffice it to say, it was a special day in the life of Signal Crest!

And there was a lot of special preparation that went into this Sunday. I asked our custodians Wanda and Arnold to give the church a little extra shine with the bishop coming. I confirmed with our greeters at the early service that they could be present to welcome folks and to keep a lookout for her arrival. Patty Van Valkinburgh and I went through the pews in the sanctuary last week replacing the prayer cards and making sure there were plenty of sharpened pencils. We included some special announcements in our worship services celebrating the congregation’s generosity in giving last year and in serving on MLK weekend; special thanks to Katy Hines and Drew Barton for crafting those messages. And both our Crest band and Chancel Choir shared some mighty moving music with us; thanks Josh and Andrew!

In the midst of making all these preparations, I did catch myself thinking: shouldn’t we always be as careful and conscientious about creating a welcoming environment and inspiring worship service, not just for the bishop and our district superintendent, but for all our guests, members, and friends who may find their way to worship on a Sunday morning? After all, there is a theme that threads through the scriptures, which is that when we extend hospitality to others, especially to strangers, we are extending hospitality to the God whose image we all bear. As Hebrews has it, “do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (13:2).

I also am continuing to contemplate the questions that the bishop left with us on Sunday, and I offer them again here to you for your prayerful contemplation and response.

     1. What is a next step for you in the practice of holy habits?

     2. How do you show love for God and neighbor?

     3. Who is your accountability partner or group?

Please let me know if I can help you in finding an answer to any of these questions amidst the life and ministry of Signal Crest. There is so much good growth that is taking place here at this church and also always room for all of us to continue to grow in our faith and following of the way of Jesus Christ.