Liberty Vineyard family,
We’re already two months into 2025 – wow, how did that much time slip by so fast already? February was a memorable month at Liberty Vineyard: we worshiped together every Sunday morning with those in the room and those on Zoom; we wrote and gifted Valentine’s cards and chocolates to every resident at Meadowbrook on the day of our wonderful Hymn Sing; we brought music and presence to Atria; we did another prayer walk at Chandler Run; we sent Jim & Dawn to the Vineyard Missions conference in Texas; we launched a Tech Team; we recorded 92% of the tracks for our Multimedia Lent Devotional, just in time for Ash Wednesday; we prayed together; we faced challenges together; we shared highs and lows together; we celebrated together; we grieved together; we ate together; we encouraged one another; and we even survived a Sunday morning sewage situation! This is what the body of Christ is all about! I love how we do life together and follow Jesus at Liberty Vineyard Church, making room for authenticity, unity, community, relationship, integrity, excellence, creativity, accountability, humility, and love, for the greater glory of God and the good of people.
I want to also share with you two excerpts from my readings this week that I think are not only prophetic words to our generation, but also very specific encouragements for us at Liberty Vineyard Church.
The first comes from a powerful memoir penned by a mom, wife, and professor with a stage IV cancer diagnosis:
It [life] comes undone. There are so many times in life when we think we have it locked down … Plans are made. Plans come apart. New delights or tragedies pop up in their place. And nothing human or divine will map out this life, this life that has been more painful than I could have imagined. More beautiful than I could have imagined … That’s the secret – don’t skip to the end.
The second comes from our daughter, Cascade, in a newsletter to her supporters this week. Cascade has been a nature lover, gifted writer, and grace-filled waterfall from her earliest years:
I … found a beautiful spider relaxing on one of my favorite bushes. I stood there and wondered at the intricacies and pattern of her yellow body, the skill with which she weaves her web, and the beauty of the golden berries and purple flowers behind her. Returning to this lush part of the world has reminded me to stop, to take the time to see and wonder at the beauty all around me … Take a moment to wonder with me at the beauty of all this creation so near to each of us … May you keep your eyes open today for something beautiful. For when we see and stop to admire beauty, we see a fuller picture of God.
Life can be so hard and painful. In the middle of our plans, something even more difficult pops up. Just when we thought situations might settle down, things unravel. There’s no end to bad news in the world. And yet, in the midst of our struggles, life can be so incredible and beautiful. Whether we’re conscious of it or not, God is always present and active, and something even more delightful pops up. Don’t skip to the end … stop, be present, take the time to see and wonder, and admire the beauty of all this creation so near to each of us. Keep your eyes open today for something beautiful: it is then that we see a fuller picture of God and we remember that we are God’s beloved image-bearers and partners in spreading Jesus’ good news. As we’ve been learning in our journey through Philippians, God always matches our suffering with joy! If you’ve missed any of this month’s sermons, please check out the links below.
The Lord is with us, beloved brothers and sisters! There’s so much more to come!
With you on the journey,
Pastor Karen
Liberty Vineyard Church
Karen Sculley – (404) 388-0518, karen@srsoln.com
Recent sermons: