From the Pastor

Thank you for the warm welcome extended to me and my family. It has been a busy, exciting, and joy filled first few weeks at Beach Lake. For me, it feels like a fresh start after several difficult years of pandemic ministry and denominational conflict. There is so much potential and possibility and I can’t wait to see what God will do among us in the coming months!

At the same time, I have listened to you talk about your experiences over the last several years. You have shared many stories about the congregation and the annual conference. Like many congregations, there is a great sense of loss and grief for what once was. There is also frustration, pain, and mistrust. I hear and feel the pain that is in your hearts and pray for healing daily so we can move forward together.

No matter how much we want to, we cannot change the past or erase it; we can only find the healing we need to move forward. I invite you to join me in praying for healing as we begin a new chapter in God’s ministry at BLUMC. These familiar words from James speak about healing and community. May they guide us in the coming weeks and months.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16)

In faith and hope,

Pastor Michelle