Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti sauce and pasta.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
Summer Midweek Meals—New Information!
Our midweek meals have been an amazing source of food and friendship. There’s nothing like listening to the laughter of a newborn baby, but the joy in our fellowship meals comes pretty close. Our gatherings have curtailed during the summer months with these exceptions:
June's midweek meal will be June 18.
July's midweek meal will be July 16.
Our August gathering will be Sunday, August 17 (details below).
Save the date!
Our August gathering will be held at the Deep Creek Pavilion on Sunday, August 17,
from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Come join in the fun!
We will restart our WEEKLY meals on Wednesday, September 3
(which is the Wednesday following Labor Day).
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Report
The students had testing at school this week. Even the lower grades that didn’t have testing were required to stay quiet the whole testing period! At our after-school program, we prioritized some relaxation time for them and a lot of play outside! Generation Kids came on Thursday; and as always, they taught a great lesson on God’s love. All of the Explorers are looking forward to the End-of-Year Party on Thursday, May 22!
Mission Moment 5.21.25
Jonathan Bailey
CBF Field Personnel, Bali, Indonesia
Two, three, four…
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long
How long to sing this song?
—Psalm 40 modified by Bono, titled “40” the last track on U2’s 1983 album War
Music and meditation are saving my life right now. It could be listening to music or playing music; either one will do really. And it is meditation—a daily sit on the cushion, making space in my heart and mind—that’s been keeping me together lately. My life has been ruffled quite a bit the past few years and the Spirit seems intent on teaching me about change. Music and meditation are a way for me to see and cope with impermanence.
Making music has always been a part of my life—whether it was singing to Dad’s harmonica as a kid, children’s choir, youth choir, then adult choir at church, studying cello and a bit of banjo, drumming as a young missionary in West Africa, leading music in an African church during seminary days and falling in love with the music of the Balinese gamelan. There is hardly a time when making music has not been a part of my life.
I know there’s no record of Jesus singing in the Gospels, but I’ve always imagined he did.
Listening to music a part of my routine, too. It can be a mirror of the present moment. I’m told that more regions of the brain become active when listening to or playing music than any other activity in which we can engage. Listening to music particularly connects me to things in my past, evokes emotions and can set a mood. I love the ethereal chants of Hildegard von Bingin in my early morning contemplation; storytellers like Jim White in the late afternoon; Coltrane for the evening; and the haunting harmonies of Arvo Pärt late at night.
Music (and other arts, too) do more to open me to the mystery of God than anything else I know; and, strange as it may sound, touching mystery is the best antidote for the challenges of change. Music becomes prayer when it gives voice to the cries of the soul.
Pray, Practice, Ponder
What music is resonating with your soul these days? Maybe the lines of an old hymn are on repeat in your mind, or maybe there is a popular song that keeps coming on the radio at just the right moment. It could be a Celtic chant, an 80s ballad or an African-American spiritual. Whatever it is, take some time today to immerse yourself in music as a spiritual practice that opens you up to the mystery of God.
Pray...Give...Go.
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Report
As summer is getting closer and testing at the schools approach, the Explorers are getting a bit more restless at after school. To help with this, we have been outside more playing games together, such as four square, whiffle ball, and just enjoying the outdoors. Our 4H agent came on Monday and taught about tectonic plates with a fun snack activity to demonstrate involving graham crackers and icing. Kaitlyn came to teach chapel, and she always brings fun activities and games to play with the kids. We also wrote our Pen Pals again and look forward to celebrating with them at our end-of-year celebration next week!
College Bible Study
Join us for our weekly college Bible study every Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the youth room!
Midweek Meal & Activities
Our Wednesday evening fellowship meal and bible studies are going great! Let’s keep the momentum going, inviting others to join us and enjoying the deepening of our fellowship.
REMINDER: Reservations must be made before noon on Mondays.
Below is the schedule for our Wednesday evening activities:
The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Group time begins approximately 6:10 p.m. and goes to 6:45 p.m. This group time is for college students and adults.
Our youth will meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m. in the youth room.
Our children also meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m, and they will be in the children’s department for a devotional, activity and play time.
Choir rehearsal follows at 7:00 p.m.
We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday evening!
A Break for Wednesday Evening Dinner & Bible Study
We will break for the summer from our regular Wednesday evening dinner and Bible study. It’s been a great opportunity for food, fun and fellowship, and we look forward to returning to our regularly-scheduled mid-week time together in September!
Mission Moment 5.14.25
Lita and Rick Sample
CBF Field Personnel San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.”
– Psalm 107:28-31
We can all agree that “trouble” is part of life. Sometimes it is pretty overwhelming. In past years, I’ve struggled through two cancers and heart issues, and some other significant challenges along the way. It wasn’t easy, and I can’t imagine walking this path without Jesus by my side.
Looking back at the hardest times of my life, I can see God’s hand holding me and carrying me through it all. Where I find the most peace and comfort is when I go to the beach, sit and listen to the waves, watch the birds and get lost in my thoughts—sometimes just emptying my mind.
There is much to say about the beach. The sound of the waves distracts me from life’s overwhelming busy-ness and distractions. It’s as if the setting slows the world down for a little while. Grounding myself in the damp, cool sand connects me to the Lord, and I find myself breathing praise for what God has created and done for me.
Watching the waves roll in as the sun begins to fall from the sky, I see the water begin to calm, and I find myself matching its tranquil rhythm. Breathing the fresh clean air renews my strength and calms my spirit. The clouds on the horizon begin to turn shades of pink, purple and orange, as the sun tries to stretch its arms out from behind the blanket of white, giving one last show of brilliance as the canvas before me turns a bright orange as its song’s sweet ending. It’s like looking at a glimpse of God on the throne, showing us God’s glory, before dipping into the sea. All worries and burdens are washed away by the sound that covers me. It is comforting. This is when I know that my Lord is carrying me in peace and wholeness.
I find myself not wanting to leave. This moment is given to me, and the connection with God is so deep, that it is indescribable. I wait until the rays are all but gone, then turn to walk away. There are no words to speak, nothing to share. My heart is full and in ways, even healed.
As I read Psalm 19:1-8, I am taken back to that place.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
—Lita
Pray, Practice, Ponder
This is a perfect time to reflect on the poem, “Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson. Many of my generation know this well and for us and those who never have heard it, I hope it will remind you of God’s great love and care for us.
As you prepare to read this, breathe in deeply and slowly exhale. Relax your shoulders. Picture yourself at the ocean’s edge, cool water lapping your toes, as your feet sink into the sand. Think of God’s all-encompassing love for you.
“Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson
One night I dreamed I was walking
along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that
during the low periods of my life, when I was
suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So, I said to the Lord, “You promised me
Lord, that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods
of my life there have only been
one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you.”