Pastor Stacey’s Summer List

Dear friends,

These wonderful, precious days of the New England summer have begun, inviting us to a change of pace. Time with friends and family, opportunities to enjoy God’s creation, a chance to step outside some of our usual routines. I’m making some lists for myself: books to read, places to go, people to catch up with. In that spirit, I’m making a list for you, too:

Summer to do List

1. Worship – At home or on vacation, take the time to celebrate God’s love with others. You might attend a service in a different denomination or faith tradition. Bring a bulletin back to share. If you’re in town, come to the summer union services and get to know your faith neighbors.

2. Sabbath – Take time to do nothing – to enjoy God’s creation and to
be re-created. Breathe. Look around you. Smile. Laugh. Watch a sunset. Listen to the birds.

3. Pray – Take time every day to connect with God. Pray for others, for our congregation, for our world, for yourself.

4. Invite – Find a way to invite another person to know God. Bring them to worship, or say a few words about how your faith has made a difference to you.

5. Read – Include a devotional book in with your summer beach reading.

6. Play – Just have fun. Ride a bike, play scrabble, sing, build a sand castle, throw a frisbee, make s’mores, ride a Swan Boat.

7. Change – Make a positive change in your life. Stop smoking; stop complaining, take a walk at lunch time; don’t buy it if you don’t need it; compliment someone every day.

8. Serve – Help someone in the name of Christ.

9. Thank – Give thanks to God. Name your blessings. Develop a spirit of gratitude. Seek God’s presence in good times and bad. God is always with us.

10. Stop by – I’ll be maintaining my “out of the office hours” during the summer. Meet me on Tuesdays (except July 7 and July 21) at Jitters Café, 3-5 pm.

Stacey