Pastor's Message

July ~ August 2025

Dear People of God,

“Summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime.” “Summer’s finally here and it’s my favorite time of year.”  We had a few nice days in May and June, but mostly just wind.  I know July and August can be hot, but it seems the older I get the warmer I like it.  I don’t mind a little heat after trying to keep my feet warm all fall, winter and spring.

I also like summer due to some vacation time of course.  Thank you for my 4 weeks off for mini-sabbatical time, and many thanks to Lael Maddox and Warren Street for preaching on Sundays when I’m away.  And let me say thank you to Betty Kramlich and Judy Ragland for playing music during the summer and thanks to our Sunday readers, ushers, offering counters, assisting ministers, coffee hosts, and sound/video operators.  Thank you for keeping good worship of our saving God going during the summer.

I always find those 4 weeks to be very refreshing and rejuvenating.  I enjoy spending more time in God’s beautiful creation: hiking in our marvelous Cascade Mountains, kayaking on some nearby lakes with my brother Brian, or even just reading a good book in the shade.  I so enjoy seeing God’s wild creatures like deer, mountain goats and big horn sheep.  And I’m a bit of a bird watcher, so it always lifts my spirits to see hawks, eagles, geese, ducks, pelicans, herons and even the little hummingbirds that visit our backyard feeder.

I know summer can be a lot of hard, hot work if you labor outside in farming, ranching, construction and other trades.  But I pray you can find some time for rest and relaxation.  Resting in God’s care reminds us that it does not all depend on us.  Sure, we do what we can to help grow God’s Kingdom, God’s reign of love, peace and justice.  But we also know that it is God who gives the growth.  As the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave growth.”  And as Martin Luther said (when he wasn’t furiously writing), “The Kingdom of God grew while Philip (Melanchthon) and I sat drinking a good Wittenberg beer.” This summer will be extra special to the Hickman’s because Son Kyle and his fiancée Kendall Boland are getting married in August!  They are having a small and simple backyard wedding.  Cathy and I are so happy for them!  And, an answer to prayer, Kendall has already found a second grade teaching position in Cle Elum!

Blessed summer to you all!  May you find some R & R time in God’s loving care.            ~ Pastor Dennis