Beyond the Pulpit 8.23.26

Crozetumc - August 23, 2026

This past week, ministry looked a little different. Rather than studying Scripture or preparing for worship, much of my attention was consumed with something far less glamorous: trying to get the internet back up and running at CUMC! It turns out we have all become quite dependent on that little invisible thing called Wi-Fi, and when it disappears, we quickly discover just how much we rely on it!

But perhaps even this is part of ministry. Sometimes we are called to put the lessons of our faith into practice in very ordinary, real-world ways. This week, that meant practicing a little of the spiritual fruit of patience while waiting, troubleshooting, calling, and waiting some more. A huge thank-you to our Administrative Assistant, Alexa Puffenburger, who stayed on top of Lumos throughout the week and worked hard to keep things moving forward. I’m hopeful we’ll be back in business by early next week, at the latest!

This week also reminded me of one of my favorite parts of ministry: bringing people together. Yesterday, I had the joy and privilege of presiding at the wedding of Aliena, the daughter of our Director of Music, Catherine Lowell, at The Homestead. What a delight to celebrate the beginning of a new marriage. And what a gift when colleagues become friends and ministry creates opportunities to share in the important moments of one another’s lives.

I am grateful, once again, for the privilege of serving this family of faith at Crozet UMC. Whether ministry looks like wrestling with Wi-Fi, celebrating a wedding, studying Scripture, or simply walking alongside people through the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life, I am continually reminded that the Spirit is always at work, connecting us, teaching us, and creating new possibilities for love and partnership. And for that, I give thanks.