To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

The “Derek & Rebekah go to church” series has been on hiatus since late November, when we settled on HMPC and stopped being Sunday morning butterflies.

This weekend, however, we have been in DC for a wedding and took the opportunity to track down an old friend, Rev. Brian Mickle.

Bryan and Rebekah have been close since seminary days. They graduated together, served in the same presbytery twice – Florida and Tampa Bay – plus she baptized both of Bryan and Fran’s children.

So we took the short drive drive to Fairlington Presbyterian Church, where the pastor was tickled to find us taking a selfie outside before coming into worship.

The sermon was a strong “Transfiguration Sunday” message, encouraging us to live into the opportunity we have to reveal some of the truth about God’s transcendent light via the way that we respond to our own salvation.

Then we enjoyed a long, delicious, relaxing brunch at the Mickle home, where Fran somehow multiplied the loaves and fishes (actually croissants and quiche and salad) and a warm and genuine hospitality washed over us and we caught up – a little – after far too long.

If the point of today’s message was how being in God’s presence can not only change us but transform the world, then the point of our serendipitous meal with Bryan and Fran had to have been to remind us of how God works encouragement and grace through our friends.

It was just what we needed. And we are grateful for the ministry of friendships that stand the test of time.

This is a good weekend – Derek