This Summer, your pastoral staff will be sharing photos of places where they’ve experienced God, sometimes unexpectedly. So enjoy the journey and may you too experience God in your journeys this summer!

Chanakanaab National Park, Cozumel Mexico: In the silence of a snorkel mask, I experienced God this past week. Seeing the beauty of God’s creation underwater as the fish swam by and the water plants moved with the waves, I was struck by the silence. I did not hear the voices or music playing on the shore or even the wind that was creating the waves; God’s presence truly experienced in the silence of floating above the reef. And this psalm came to mind.

Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gained him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Prayer

God of Salvation, when the focus of our breath and the silence of our thoughts allow us to experience You, we are grateful. We join our voices and the rhythm of nature singing Your praises. May our joy expand as we move in this world. May that joyful noise be our song, as we know the love of Christ, Amen.