Not all follow hockey. Not all are perfect. Only some will go to Brentwood UMC June 11-13 for The Tennessee Annual Conference. But all of the above come together in some way in our three scripture readings this Sunday. Even if you don’t follow the Nashville Preds you are probably aware that this team is on the verge of possibly winning the Stanley Cup within the next week. Even if you don’t imagine yourself being made perfect, your future (and present) preachers vow to that goal when asked the question next week when standing before the Bishop, Lay, and Clergy Delegates. And Brentwood UMC hosts thousands of Methodists striving to spread Good News and make disciples as in Matthew 28:16-20.

“Pastor,” you may ask? “What does a professional hockey team have to do with us as Christians, as Methodists?” Well….I am working on that! The Bible says a lot about “being in the world but not of it.” But “God so loved the world!” And Jesus said “Go into all the world….and make disciples.” He also said “Be ye therefore perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

This is a lot to prayerfully ponder! Read the scriptures before you come to worship this Sunday and see where the Spirit leads you in thinking about YOUR being part of the Great Commission, being a United Methodist, and whether or not you “could” be a Predators fan, a fan of a Tennessee team possibly about to be “perfect!” If only the Church were perfect(!). If so, it will be the work of God more than us~†

Blessings as you pray, read, and “go into all the world.”

Pastor Barry