January 30th, 2026 | Pastor Charlie

“That’s Good.”

In my sermon last Sunday, I invited you to become "beauty-spotters" this week. Each time you saw something beautiful, I asked you to stop, take a breath, and then say the words “That’s good!” I have been doing that myself this week, although it has not always been in response to the beauty of creation.

After church on Sunday, I made my way to Warren Willis Camp and Conference center in Leesburg, FL, where I was gathering with other members of the Board of Ordained Ministry so we could interview candidates seeking ordination as United Methodist Elders or Deacons. This process takes a long time during which my small group and I get to meet with the same candidates each year, which allows us to see their growth, learning, development, and progress all along the way.  This past week I was deeply moved many times as I listened to candidates telling of how this process, long and laborious as it is, shapes and forms them in all the right ways for their lives of ordained ministry. Each time I heard a story of growth towards readiness for ordination, I whispered “That’s good!” to myself.

On Thursday evening (1/29), I gathered with other clergy and around 200 people from our local community. We were gathering to stand together in these difficult times, to lament what we are seeing with our own eyes in our nation and world, and to pray for all who are suffering most. 

To gather with one another in unity of heart and mind was beautiful. 

Leading an act of collective pastoral care in response to the expressed sadness and concern of our people was a deep honor.

Joining my voice in prayer with the voices of all those gathered was sacred and holy.

I got to the end of it all and whispered to myself, “That’s good.”

My encouragement to you t

oday is to keep spotting moments and places of beauty, and to keep proclaiming “That’s good!” because God is to be found and experienced in of all of them.

Blessings

Pastor Charlie