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Small world

Pastoral Messages | July 6, 2017

I have the small world song from the Disney World ride stuck in my head. Many other things need to be taking up residence in my brain in this season of life, but that catchy little tune has prime real estate.

The idea of floating in a dimly lit tunnel, on a gentle boat ride, looking at cartoon global scenes sounds pretty nice. However, reality has different plans. I think this tune is stuck in my head because in a way, it is a small world. I have spent the last six months preparing to complete my time at St. Paul – preparing to serve the wider church in a different parish. This preparation led me to look on the other side of the country, then led me to looking here in the Quad Cities, then specifically on the Iowa side. The world seemed to get smaller. As these last few months progressed, I found myself being called to two distinct, yet linked congregations here in the Quad Cities. I’m staying for a variety of reasons, the main ones being God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

So while the world seems small, I have learned yet again the lesson that God certainly isn’t small, that God’s work certainly isn’t small. It takes on forms unimagined, with people unknown, in places unanticipated. I made promises to serve God’s people, wherever they may be, and it turns out, they are just a few miles away. So as I complete my time here, among God’s people of St. Paul, I want to thank all of you. You have shown me God’s love and care in numerous ways. I have seen the work of the Holy Spirit in this congregation, I have seen death and resurrection in this congregation, and I have seen Christ in this congregation. So keep showing up, keep worshiping, keep praying, keep living as God’s children and Christ’s ambassadors.

We will probably run into each other as we do God’s work. It turns out it is a pretty small world after all.

Amy Diller, associate pastor

Editor’s note: Amy Diller’s farewell weekend will be July 15-16. A reception will be held after all worship services on Saturday and Sunday. If you’d like to donate to a gift for Amy, please write a check to St. Paul clearly marked for “Resident Gift.” You’re also invited to send individual cards or notes to the church, or drop a written expression in the basket on farewell weekend. Amy will become the pastor of Together in Christ Parish, the newly combined parishes of St. James and All Saints churches.

6 Comments on “Small world”

  • Audrey Keeney

    July 8, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    Thank you for your words above. We are happy you will be here in the area serving Christ. We have been blessed by your serving here these last 2 years. Like others, we came here for jobs in ’62 with the idea of going to western Minnesota to be closer to “home” as soon as we could get jobs there. I am still here and this is “home”.

  • Pat Megown

    July 7, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    Amy I am thrilled you are staying in the QC! I know both churches and there are good people in both. You will be a blessing to them and they to you. Thank you for the past two years. It has been a joy to get to know you!

  • Cathy Crampton

    July 7, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    May God Bless you and keep in his care, as you start your new journey!!!!!

  • David DeWit

    July 6, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    We’ll miss you at St. Paul. You have done a super job.

  • Bonnie Fox

    July 6, 2017 at 2:16 pm

    I am thrilled that you are staying in the area! We, too, we’re members at one of the churches. I will come to visit you sometime, as I have friends at St. James who will let me know when you are preaching. Wishing you all the best!

  • Clayton Lloyd

    July 6, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    Amy, I am very pleased to learn that you will remain in our greater Quad City community. One of those congregations was home to us (and to many others in the St. Paul congregation) for several years, and I wish you and those congregations the best as you begin your service there. (It also reminds me of the experience of Jan and me. When we came here with a job offer in 1973, we thought we would be in the Quad Cities “for a couple years”. Opportunities continued to arise for us and we remain–44 years later. This is a pretty good place to be.)

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