DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR DAVE MARCH 8, 2023

The Power At Work Among Us

The power went out shortly after we arrived at Camp Lookout this past Friday evening for our Confirmation retreat, and it didn’t come back on until about an hour before we left Saturday afternoon. Many of you may have been without power as well after the strong storms that passed through the area this weekend.

I have to hand it to Don Washburn, the camp director, and his staff. They were so nimble, and they immediately pivoted in the face of this power outage. The kitchen staff prepared all our meals with their gas stoves. They located some battery-powered lanterns that they set out around the dinner tables so that we could see well enough to eat. They fired up their generator to run their computer and projector to lead our worship services and teaching sessions. Thanks to all their improvisations, we were still able to do all the things that make the Camp Lookout confirmation retreat so meaningful and memorable. We were still able to make our stoles (by the light of those same lanterns). We were still able to watch the Claymation video of Methodist history (for four minutes of cheesy entertainment, click here).

Saturday evening, after returning from Camp Lookout, I posted on my social media what a joy it was to share in the retreat with this year’s class from Signal Crest. I also wrote, “the electricity was knocked out in the storm, but there was another power present among us.” And then in our worship together here at Signal Crest on Sunday morning, Bill talked about how Jesus is the light of the world, and Marti Wayland shared with the children how we can shine the light of Christ like a light bulb as long, as we are connected to the power source. It all added up to remind me and to reinforce in my mind the good and glad news that there is indeed another power present among us, even when the powers of this world go out.

And so my thoughts turn to one of the prayers of the Apostle Paul: “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Are you connected to that power source? How might you get more connected, and stay more connected, to that power? Who can you invite to connect to that power always at work within us and among us?

Please continue to keep our confirmation class in your prayers as they continue their

confirmation journey this spring. And if you or anyone you know want to spend a week at Camp Lookout this summer–riding horses, going caving or kayaking, and growing closer to God–check out their website at www.camplookout.com.