Trunk or Treat

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” – I Kings 19:12-13

Trunk or Treat is tonight at the church parking lot!  Thank you for your generous donations of candy as we share the love of Jesus in the form of hotdogs and treats with our neighborhood.  It is a fun way to reach local families and provide a safe place for them to enjoy the holiday together.

As a church, our desire is always to provide a safe place for people to encounter the transforming presence of God, just as Elijah encountered God on the mountain.  He didn’t see God in the storm, the earthquake, or the fire.  Elijah knew God was present in the gentle whisper.  Sometimes we provide big, showy programs or projects, like Trunk or Treat.  Other times, people encounter God through a simple conversation, an invitation to worship, Bible study or a prayer group.

May we all seek after the Lord and be attentive to listen when God speaks through a gentle whisper.

God we thank you that you love, you promise, you call—in that order. We confess that we often see you in reverse, believing we must earn your regard. When we see you only as a rule-enforcer, forgetting that obedience to your way is true freedom, forgive us. When we see you as doling out rewards we think we have earned, forgive us. When we are so consumed with the letter of your law that we miss your Spirit, forgive us. Guide us again into your path and lead us in your truth—the truth of unending love. Amen.