“When God closes a door, somewhere God opens a window.” It’s a phrase that was popularized in “The Sound of Music” that carries the sentiment that even things that don’t work out the way that we had planned often end up working out in other ways. Our Sunday worship service in the sanctuary of the Albany Park Ministry Center felt this way for me. Worshipping in that sacred space with a few new friends from Big Shoulders Church provided a glimpse of the possibilities that are before us.
Over the last few years Berry has engaged in a process of discerning who God is calling us to be in the world. This discernment brought us to the partnership that we now have with the people at Chicago Methodist Senior Services where we will soon celebrate a year of leading. We also have been given the opportunity to partner with First Vietnamese United Methodist Church in Albany Park.
On August 20 we will participate in a shared worship service with the First Vietnamese congregation. There will be a time of fellowship over a shared meal, and then Rev. Hope Chernich will lead the two congregations through a process of discerning if God is calling us to engage in partnership through a shared space for engaging in ministry. Please plan to be a part of this important opportunity for discussion and prayer. God is indeed opening doors and windows for us at this time.
Peace,
Matthew