Sightings+of+God

"...in whom we live, and move, and have our being."
Often, when we gather together, we ask if anyone has had a "sighting of God" recently. Sometimes the stories that emerge are wonderful.

If you have a sighting or something similar to share, feel free to click the "EDIT" button and start typing here....

I just had a sighting of God here in the office that I want to share with you.

A young man named Jacob came into church today. I welcomed him into the office and he asked if he could talk to "the Pastor." I explained that Fr. Michael would be in tomorrow and asked if I could be of help.

He proceeded to express how much he has appreciated St. Paul's over the last year he has attended Narcotics Anonymous here. He wanted to repay St. Paul's and NA, and so, he reached into his wallet and handed over 12 months "rent" for hosting NA here at St. Paul's.

Our visit was so brief. I don't know if Jacob will be at NA tonight or in the future as he is planning to travel to visit family and then find somewhere new to settle down.

When Jacob left, I had an overwhelming sense of being blessed to meet him, and also a touch of loss that he is moving on before we can know him.

God bless Jacob on his journey, NA for moving him forward, and St. Paul's for being a safe and supporting place for people to be and to grow.

I was working in my office a couple of Saturday mornings ago, when my office phone rang. Usually on weekends I let the phone go to voice mail as it's my time "off" from work. I decided to answer it instead, and am so glad I did. It was a call from a client wanting to arrange a time to pick up his project. I had called him 6 weeks before to tell him everything was finished. I did not hear back from him for about 1 1/2 weeks, and then read in the newspaper that his beloved wife had passed away after a 13 year battle with cancer. I had decided to not recontact him for a while, to give him some time as I knew what he was dealing with. So fortunate for both of us that I answered the phone, as we had an hour long conversation about his own journey as a caregiver and supporter of his wife through her fight with cancer. There is a symbiotic connection when you talk with another person who has lost a loved one to cancer as you yourself have. Someone who truly understands what you have been through on every level of the cancer journey caregivers experience. God blessed both of us with this connection that Saturday. I will be forever grateful for that grace from above. Leanne

This morning I was getting the kids ready for school and trying think of what I was going to do where we were going to live and out of all this hectic mess I had this overwelming feeling of appreicaion and I am greatful for what I do have and I stopped feeling sorry for myself and stop thinking of what I dont have I woke up this morning I am healthy I have a roof over our heads I have amazing children and it occured to me Tina you ARE blessed with so many things the unseen the unheard I am lucky enough to have been reminded of how truly blessed I am yes things are trying and up in the air but God doesnt ever give me more then I can handle and I just wanted to share the I guess awakening I had and "my" sighting of God.

This morning in church Betty leaned over and asked me if they had had the [raffle] drawing for the afghan yet. I said that they were doing it during coffee and she said "Oh good...I still have a chance then". So...Diane asked me to draw the ticket for the afghan and I blindly reached my hand into the box and pulled out Betty's entry!! How awesome is that!!! God was surely listenting and at work. Karen.

Part 1: There is a boy in one of my classes for whom I have been praying most of the school year. For whatever reason, despite his behavioral difficulties in school, he has touched my heart.

Part 2: Meanwhile. . . Jackie has been begging me to renew our membership at the art center and start making pottery again, as we frequently did until about 18 months ago when life got too busy. A week ago I finally renewed the membership.

The Sighting: Saturday we went to the art center for the second time since renewing the membership and who, of all people, was there working on a project? My difficult student. It was only his second time working with clay. He was startled to see me and didn't really want to talk to me, so I left him alone to work, but clearly God has set us on a collision course. So now what do I do?????

After commenting during announcements one Sunday about the location of the Baptismal Font in our new entrance, I was amazed a few weeks later to walk into church to behold the font moved to the center of the entrance hall to grace my entrance into the sanctuary. I was awe struck to the point of experiencing a Holy moment as I passed by the Font and remembered my Baptism. . .† Each time I do pass by, or stand in the sanctuary and look back into the new entrance I encounter a sighting of God.† We have had Baptisms since the font was moved where the entire congregation felt and were involved in the service. Praise God and thank you for listening - for caring about one person's opinion and need to speak out.† One more reason St. Paul's is a special place; people are heard and respected and responded to in grace and love.

Peace and love, Jackie O