Wednesday, April 4
“Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Luke 9:1-2
In March, 2010, Patti and I first came to Edwards Church, and it has been a healing experience.
After 30 years as an ordained minister, I had lost all of my confidence. It didn’t matter that God has worked some wonderful successes through me. Whatever successes there had been, none of it really mattered. For 10 years, I had lost confidence in God’s call on me to ordained ministry; confidence in the gifts and talents to be a minister; confidence that there was anything in my life that could be helpful to the church: it was gone.
Then we met Don Akin in the bar of an area restaurant. He invited us to Edwards. We accepted Don’s invitation.
You, the people of Edwards, became God’s way for healing. The healing comes in the warmth of your welcome, how you greeted us in worship after the “passing of the peace, the way you accepted us, the invitations to become a part of your life as a congregation. You are the eyes, ears, hands, and most of all the Love of God. All of these mean much more than your words.
God continues to heal me: for ministry. As always, God uses people in the holy work of healing. A year ago, with Debbie’s guidance, Massachusetts Conference of the UCC and I began talking about “activating” my ordination and my possible return to ordained ministry. We are well done that path. You are God’s people who offer life to all who come through these doors. Whatever ministry God has for me, your faithfulness to God’s love has been the vehicle of this healing.
Thanks be to God. –Rev. Dr. Alex W. Hunter
Heal us, O God, that we may go forth and offer healing to one another and to our world. May we claim our calling as your disciples. Amen.