March has arrived, and whether we welcome it via a lion or a lamb, I do a little dance, knowing we have made it this far through the winter, and Spring is just around the corner. There is so much to look forward this month. We celebrate Women’s history month, the continuation of Lent, World Day of Prayer, not to mention the return of evening light with Daylight Saving Time, and Holy Week with Easter on the last day of the month.

I encourage all of us at GUMC to find something new to participate in this March that will allow us to grow in our faith and the light of Christ. We have most of the year ahead to make a transformation in our faith, one that moves us from faithful believer to living out our faith.

I was encouraged recently at the Genesee Valley District days by our new Bishop, Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez to remember why we are doing this thing called church in the United Methodist tradition. He encouraged us to memorize the Mission of the United Methodist Church, which is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”, as well as the vision of the United Methodist Church of the Upper New York Conference, which is “to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be God’s love with our neighbors in all places.” And it might help us understand better who we are by learning our mission statement at Geneseo UMC which is, “Following in Jesus’ footsteps as a welcoming, caring, giving, and prayerful community of Faith.” All of these statements point to the love we have for Jesus, and our neighbors because of our strong faith. It is a true blessing to be part of something so amazing.

Henri Nouwen is eloquent in describing what lies ahead for us,

“Imagine that we could walk through the new year always listening to a voice saying to us: ‘I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it!’ Imagine… we must open our minds and hearts to the voice that resounds through the valleys and hills of our life saying: ‘let me show you where I live among my people.  My name is God-with-you.’  We must choose to listen to that voice, and every choice will open us a little more to discover new life hidden in the moment, waiting eagerly to be born.”

(from Here and Now)

Thank you for all the ways in which you welcome each other, and new friends in the name of Christ, for being a caring, giving, and prayerful community of faith!

Blessings,

Pastor Beth