In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life,and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)

This evening, my computer will be packed up and ready for tomorrow’s assault on the house by the moving company; it’s going to be out of my reach for a little more than three weeks. Yes, I’ll have my tired old laptop, but my wireless network will be gone and I’m not sure how things will look in the apartment between now and August 11.

Bottom line: it’s going to be tough to post every day until we get settled in our new home, but I promise I’ll do my best.

SANCTUARY: Yesterday I posted this image on facebook; I took it as I was going into First Presbyterian for the 8:30 Praise Service. What struck me was the truth in the word “Sanctuary.” Yes, a sanctuary is where we worship; but it’s also a place of safety, of firm rootedness, and of reassurance.

This weekend church was all of those for me, and more.

LIFE AND LIGHT: I’m including this next photograph (below: Ben Pabst being installed as elder) because it speaks of the continuity of the life and work here, even in the middle of transition and change. That’s part of what makes our church home a sanctuary. This church is moving forward, embracing the opportunity to meet this particular challenge. Making sure that the right leadership is in place is a key element of good transition, so Rebekah was delighted to see Ben become part of the team.

In the evening we had our final meeting with POGs (Parents of Grads). I have led this remarkable covenant group since the beginning of 1997, when we started as Parents of Teens (POTs). We meet every Sunday evening, probably 45 times a year, and the level of commitment and faithfulness is truly phenomenal.

For me, and for Rebekah, the Sunday evening small-group represents what can be possible as a faith community. This is what the “Body of Christ” is supposed to look like. However, rather than make us feel like we’re losing something, our experience with POGs gives us hope and promise for what’s next; because we know that such community is not our doing, but God’s, and we are confident that God has something amazing in store for us in the next stage of ministry.

BLESSING: This is all I have time for this morning. Like I said, the moving truck rolls up first thing Tuesday. Sigh…. But I’ll leave you with this amazing blessing. One gift our POGs group gave to us was a year-long calendar, with a different family unit (there happen to be 12, other than us) featured each month. Each family shared a photograph, and a scripture that has been transformational in their journey; the combination is powerful.

Powerful because that is where we are rooted. Or, as the beginning of John’s Gospel puts it, “In the beginning was the Word.” As a faith community, we are grounded in, and sustained by, the word (the scriptures) and The Word (Jesus, the Living Word).

How blessed we are to be so loved, by God, and by God’s good people. And the light shines in the darkness… Can’t you see them all shine! – DEREK

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life,and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it.