As Jesus prepares to leave his followers and go to be with God he reminds them that there are certain things they just cannot know. God is so vast that the human mind cannot even being to fathom the dream God has for this world. Still, God gives us the power to participate in the realization of that dreamGods kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

As the exiles return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple there are both laughter and tears in response to this opportunity. West End UMC has been a place where generations have come to celebrate and to mourn, a place baptized with laughter and tears. As we care for this building we continue a great tradition as well as live into Gods dream for us in the future.

The only reason we have a building is to provide a place that we can practice the love of God and neighbor to which Jesus called all his followers. It is place where we cultivate glad and generous hearts and goodwill toward all people. Believe it or not, it even provides the environment where we can learn to love our enemies.

As beautiful as our church building is its importance lies in the fact that it provides the place where each week we gather in anticipation of an encounter with the risen Christ. We are stewards of a building whose beauty invites us into a transforming relationship with God, a purpose that no civic gathering place could come close to matching.

In Jesus' conversation with Thomas Jesus responds to Thomas's honest doubt by inviting him to an even more intimate encounter, to touch his wounds. Though the story does not indicate whether Thomas actually did touch Jesus, could it be that God can use even our doubt to draw us into a more intimate relationship with the risen Christ?