Grace Notes June 25 ... Final by Judy

Do you remember when you or your wife was pregnant for the first time?
How excited and scared and ignorant and innocent you were? Mainly,
though, you were amazed and full of wonder as that belly grew! And that
joy, that exaltation when that glorious baby was actually born! You had
known it by touch but not by sight for a lo-o-ong time. And here was your
introduction face-to-face. How our hearts swelled! We thought we could
never ever love anybody again as much as we instantly do this infant.

And then we had a second child!

We learned immediately that our hearts have far greater capacity for
loving than we had dreamed. And so on. Apparently God made us for
loving.

Well, that's how it has been for me at Salem. Over the five years I have
gotten to be here, I kept getting to know more and more people, young,
old, men, women, children and each one had a story. SO interesting.
Sometimes I listened in such sadness, sometimes in sorrow, sometimes in
anger, sometimes laughter, always blessed to hear all these children of
God's.

I learned that ministry is simply loving. Loving people who need it,
loving those who say they don't, that they're fine. Loving those we see
and those we don't, loving those we know and those we don't. Again,
apparently God made us for loving. Downstairs Salem serves the hungry
with food and welcome. Upstairs Salem serves its members and strangers
looking for a church home. Salem is hospitable. It is also generous, as
it serves children affected by malaria, feeds children around the world
with manna packs. People at Salem really don't like to hear that children
are hungry. Salem does many acts of loving, whether the acts are called
that or not. The building and lawns reflect the loving care people have
for it. And on and on. The Sunday School is full of activity and
laughter on Sunday mornings, as is the Confirmation Study on Wednesday
evenings. And Salem hosts two Scout troops, an FHA group, an AA meeting,
and various recitals and weddings and funerals. This is no museum! There
is dust and wear and tear due to use, which is exactly what God wants
going on!

Are you getting the idea that I feel so deeply, profoundly blessed here?
It is very difficult to leave. But present or not, I will carry you all
in my heart, which I learned is indeed big enough to love you all, thanks
be to God.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and
grant you His peace. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, amen.

Judy Bergeson
Diaconal Minister