Color on the Mountain

     You can imagine what it was like to be back at work on Monday morning after being out of the office for the last two weeks. This week was our church council deadline to get all of our reports in line for charge conference coming up soon. Praise the Lord for gifted lay people who have been willing to step up to the plate, call meetings, and get the work done that needs to be done for charge conference. I am so grateful for their hard work. I was a little worried about my endurance and being able to hold up, but God has given extra strength, and I give him the praise for that. I am enduring and grateful for the spiritual health and emotional strength to be able to be back at work.
     I also give the Lord praise for being in a connected United Methodist Church. We are connected by love in the best sense of the word. Our family has received cards this week from a lot of different churches where we have previously served. Through my dad's extended illness, I know you have been holding our family in prayer, and now in his death, we can't thank you enough for your love and prayers that you have extended our way. I sat down this morning to a large stack of sympathy cards that had come in the mail, from lots of different churches. The best of the United Methodist Church is that we continue to love one another even after a new pastor takes over the pastoral responsibilities, the love a pastor has for the flock, and the flock back towards the pastor is enduring and you have truly shown that to us. Love is eternal and that is a great gift of God. We are living out and receiving your witness that love stands over the test of time, and it has warmed our heart to know that so many people care about how much our Daddy meant to us, how much we loved him and how much we are going to miss him.
     As I write to you today, the color on the moutain in Boone is at it's peak. The wind is whistling like it is 20 degrees below, but it's not. It's warm outside, and our hearts are warm today because the love of God is with us. May that same warmth of the love of God be with you today too. Thanks so much for your prayers. We are being held up by them and we are so grateful for your love and kindness. Rev. Evelyn Lemons