Craig Finnestad
  • Home
  • #BeKind
  • Create A Ripple
  • Books
  • Ildsjel Coaching
  • The Water’s Edge
  • About
  • Home
  • #BeKind
  • Create A Ripple
  • Books
  • Ildsjel Coaching
  • The Water’s Edge
  • About

Craig Finnestad

The Water's Edge

Thank You for Being The Church

written by Craig Finnestad May 29, 2019

Benjamin walked across the stage at Baxter Arena the other night. His graduation gown was bight blue with a gold stole. The bowtie was Millard North’s colors: green and blue. The smile on his face was big. I sat and watched from a couple hundred feet away. It was quite a moment. 

It seems like yesterday when this shy, little five-year-old boy and I held hands as we walked from the parking lot to his Kindergarten class at Willowdale Elementary for the first time. Thirteen years weren’t supposed to go by this fast. Many of the days were long, but the years were short. The boy became man.

About fifteen hours after Benjamin walked across the stage, I stood in front of our congregation and baptized a beautiful little girl and then did the same thing ninety minutes later with two twin brothers. I have started doing baptisms a little differently in recent months. At the end of the baptism, you all read the following response:

With God’s help we will speak and act like Jesus Christ. We will surround this person with a community of love and forgiveness, so that they may grow in their faith, and be devoted in their service to God and others.

Even though we have just been reading this liturgy for a month or so. You all have been living this out since we started 13 years ago. The little boy didn’t become a man by himself. The little boy didn’t become a man with just the help of his parents. The little boy became a man with the help many invested and caring men and women. The people at The Water’s Edge are at the top of the list. 

You spoke and acted like Jesus to Benjamin. 
You surrounded him with a community of love and forgiveness.

The night before Benjamin’s graduation, we had a party for him. It was a bit overwhelming. Based on the amount of sausage and pasta and cupcakes that were eaten—probably around 500 people came over the three hours. Many who knew Benjamin well came. Many who didn’t know him well came. You hugged him and shook his hand and invited him to share his story and his dreams. You continued to speak and act like Jesus and surround him with a community of love. 

Times exist when the words “thank you” don’t seem like enough and now is one of those times. Thank you for being the church.

Thank You for Being The Church was last modified: May 29th, 2019 by Craig Finnestad
Gratitude
0 comment
4
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Craig Finnestad

previous post
Memorial Day
next post
Why I Am Quitting My Job

You may also like

Fifteen Years Ago

September 10, 2016

You Matter

September 11, 2016

Confirmation

April 29, 2017

Buy A Book. Build a Church. Be a Blessing.

Prayers from The Water's Edge is an engaging collection of prayers and writings for those who wish to dip their feet in the water of God's renewing grace and all who seek the depths of God's heart. All proceeds from the book go to The Water's Edge building fund.

Order a signed copy from weomaha.com
Order a softcover book from Amazon
Order an eBook

Subscribe to Updates

About Me

About Me

Craig Finnestad

Child of God, recipient of grace, and a peddler of hope.

Tweets

  • My last 24 hours. https://t.co/900p6aYJK2

    07-Dec-2019

    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • God loves you in your darkest hours. He comforts you in your darkest moments. He forgives even your darkest failures. #JarridWilson

    06-Dec-2019

    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind. #AnthonyBourdain

    06-Dec-2019

    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • People who commit suicide don’t want to die. What they want is the pain to stop.

    06-Dec-2019

    Reply Retweet Favorite
  • Reading a book in the sauna at Lifetime Fitness--the iPad overheats and shuts down. Couldn't Apple foresee this and… https://t.co/DXjGnMjoCU

    14-Nov-2019

    Reply Retweet Favorite

On the Future of Methodism

I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out. -John Wesley

Categories

  • Book Reviews (1)
  • Coaching (8)
  • Create a Ripple (1)
  • Culture (4)
  • Family (15)
  • Food (4)
  • Humor (5)
  • Ministry (17)
  • Parenting (1)
  • Photography (12)
  • Prayer (5)
  • Prayers (24)
  • Renewal Leave (16)
  • Sausage (2)
  • Sermons (6)
  • Spiritual Formation (95)
  • The Forgiveness Project (5)
  • The Water's Edge (57)
  • Trampled By Geese (1)
  • Travel (10)

Other Links

  • The Water’s Edge Church
  • Historical Blog 2006-2016

Popular Posts

  • Ten Characteristics of a Humble Person

    February 3, 2018
  • Five Ways to Know If Your Life is Out of Balance and Eight Ways to Get it Back

    July 27, 2017
  • Thoughts on Tonight’s Debate

    October 19, 2016
  • When Tragedy Happens

    June 19, 2019
  • John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer for Today

    December 29, 2016

Me On Instagram

  • The last 24 hours
  • Holland Hall
  • Old Main and the moon
  • I tried to teach them about life and they taught
  • I like sunsets better than sunrises A sunrise is full
  • These kids have grown a little over the years The
  • Spent the morning teaching about human sexuality conflict and Jesus
  • David has practiced hard to get a triple double Tonight
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • RSS
Footer Logo

@2016 - Craig Finnestad. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top