If you are reading this, I hope that you consider yourself a friend of Holy Cross United Methodist Church, and have an interest in our effectiveness in sharing the love of God in meaningful ways among each other, and out into the wider world.  If that is true, I would like to invite you to play an even greater role in helping this happen—and I’m not talking about giving more money.

     We have an element in our Sunday morning worship services called God Sightings, in which I pass along stories others—like you—tell me about where and how they have perceived God at work in, around, and through them in recent days.  There are some weeks I have several such sightings to share, other weeks none.  I want to exhort you to ensure that there is always a sighting to behold when we gather to worship.

     What is a God Sighting, you may ask?…thank you for asking.  Such a sighting is any event or awareness you have which enhances your belief that God is alive and active in this world. 

•         It might be something as simple—yet overwhelming—as a brilliant sunset that calms your heart after an anxious day. 
•         It might be something as awe-inspiring as calling someone just when they needed to hear from you.  I have read accounts of people on the verge of suicide who found new hope because someone called them at that exact moment.  Coincidence: I think not!
•         It might be something as personal as a song coming on the radio which reminds you of a friend you had not thought of for years who you then reach out to through Facebook with whom you are able to reignite a treasured relationship. 
•         It might be something as meaningful as being met in the depths of grief by a quiet assurance that “you will get through this” which gives you the confidence to keep on keeping on.

     The great value of sharing these God Sightings in worship is that the claims for faith which I make in my sermon get ‘fleshed out’ in your living, lending credence to all that has been said.  Think of it this way: if my sermon is the lecture portion where faith is described, God Sightings are the lab portion where that faith is experienced.

     I want to earnestly request you to first of all be aware of God’s activity in your life; then, I want you to share with me how you see that happening so that I can share it with the whole body of believers.  I am confident that the more we share, the more yet we will begin to share and, as a result, more people will be touched and blessed because such stories speak to our hearts in ways mere sermons often cannot.

     If you have a God Sighting which you would like to share, please send them to me at: hcpastorg@gmail.com or via snail mail to: Pastor Gary, Holy Cross UMC, 1200 W. Hammer Lane, Stockton, CA  95209.

     Thank you—in advance—for all you will share from here on…

     Pastor Gary

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WORSHIP REMINDER: Our worship and livestream on Sunday, June 27, will take place at 9:00 A.M. in our sanctuary and on our website. Then, beginning at 10:00 A.M. in both of those places, we will make available the Service of Ordination and Commissioning from the Annual Conference Session, a chance to celebrate those whom God has called into ministry. This grand time of worship will feature a sermon by Bishop Minerva Carcaño—always a source of inspiration of blessing.