“I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.  I love to tell the story because I know ‘tis true, it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.  I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.  I love to tell the story, it did so much for me; And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.”

I Love to Tell the Story (UMH #156) – A. Katherine Hankey, 1898.

As I sit to write this article, I am thinking about how best to prepare for the next few weeks and months. As we move through the summer, although I will still be an Associate Pastor here at PUMC, my duties will shift to the planting of our new faith community, Tapestry UMC. Consequently, my immediate future promises to be filled with a good number of lasts and a good number of firsts.

This Monday I will be finishing my last Disciple Bible Study class here at Parker UMC. I am already thinking about my next sermon on June 28, the last sermon I will be preaching here. I will someday soon be singing with the praise band for the last time. Just yesterday was the last choir practice of the season and I am preparing for all my last team meetings here.

At the same time, I am thinking ahead to the beginning of Tapestry UMC. Not long ago we had our first planning meeting and we are starting to think about our first mission projects. Sometime this summer, we will have our first worship service and hopefully we will get to start meeting some of our first visitors to the new community of faith.

Of course, lots of firsts and lots of lasts means lots of change. As uncomfortable as some of us are with change, it can really be good. You can’t move forward in anything unless something changes. We can’t grow in our faith without change. We can’t broaden our horizons without change.

Some things, however, never change and never should. God’s love never changes. God’s sovereignty never changes. God’s desire to be in relationship with us never changes.

There is a hymn I know that says, “I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and his love.” That is something I don’t think will ever change either. I have spent my time here at PUMC and will continue to spend my time at Tapestry joyfully sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone who will listen. The special love I have for this church is something that also will never change.

Because of that, and since you all are collectively the “mother church” for Tapestry, I am going to keep you all posted on our progress over the months and years to come. Keep your eyes open in the Cross & Flame for Tapestry news and let me know if you have any questions or would like to help us in any way. God continues to bless the people of Parker / Lone Tree through PUMC, and now through Tapestry. I feel privileged to be a part of God’s mission in this place.

God bless!

Rev. Pat Bell