Ken Edwards, Senior Pastor

As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? (Psalm 42:1-2, NRSV)

These two verses from the psalmist have been in my thoughts almost continually over the last week. It was a week that was at times very difficult and troubling, and I found myself pleading to see God at work in the circumstances.“When shall I come and behold the face of God?” I suspect that many times on our faith journey we’ve asked that same question “Where is God?”

The last Reflections article I wrote focused on the meaningfulness of our shared lives in Christian community so I should not have been surprised that the answer to, “Where is God?” was found in words of encouragement and offers of support from our church family. I lost count of the emails, Facebook postings, and text messages I received that reminded me that God was in our midst.

When shall I come and behold the face of God? I beheld the face of God in worship on Sunday morning; in the meaningful words of the hymns; in the warm smiles and eager faces of each worshipper; in Adam Kelchner’s challenging sermon; in the beautiful voices of the choir ensemble at 8:15; the Chapel Choir at 10:30; and in the gifted ringing of bells by the Wesley Ringers, our youth handbell choir. The orchestra’s choice of “Be Still My Soul” spoke to hearts that had been fearful and troubled. I beheld the face of God in faces of volunteers who stepped up to offer their help and at the end of the day I/we experienced God’s presence as we gathered in the chapel for a prayer vigil and service. God is very present and at work in our midst.