Saying Good-bye to the Y

Hey Friends, and Greetings from my last two weeks at YMCA of the Rockies in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado!

I’m looking forward to being home, but no regrets about being here. Mountain temperatures are about fifteen degrees cooler than “down the hill” — what a relief! Each day has included plenty of walking, stunning mountain views, trees and rivers, wild animals, staff from other nations, happy campers, lots of Jesus-followers, and fairly decent food. It’s been an adventure, for sure, although one I’m unlikely to repeat. HaHa!

In general, my weekly schedule has included facilitating chapel-related activities like offering communion, meditative nature walks, serving Sunday morning church services, family camps, Bible studies, hymn sings, story time at the library, etc. Far and away, my favorite times have been discipling three young adults on our chapel staff. They are gold! We’ve had honest, open, challenging conversations about how ministry can be sustainable, theology, relationships, finance, communication — you name it! What a gift they’ve been to me and, based on their feedback, they’ve benefited, as well. I’ll miss them but I have a hunch we’ll stay in touch.

I’m so thankful to be close to home and return each weekend, as well as be available for events like my granddaughter’s birthday, welcome visits from local friends and family, hair cuts 😊, and even teaching on Sunday mornings for local churches.

In addition to all the joyful times, there have also been times of sorrow. Our Get the Word Out dear friends and missionaries, David/Andrea Hutchings (with Cadence, International) and Laura Hutchings (Haiti), lost their mom this month after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. I have known Debbie Hutchings and her dear family for over 30 years. She was an intercessor, a lover of God’s Word, a worshiper, and loyal friend. We have lost a saint who left an eternal mark on this world. Please pause now and give thanks for Debbie’s life and pray for her grieving family. Thank you.

After Debbie’s honoring memorial service, I returned to the Y only to be called that evening to be the chaplain-on-staff to attend to a suicide that had happened on campus. It was unlike any other ministry situation I’ve experienced. Although I do not yet have words to express the intensity of the trauma, I can say that my dependence on Holy Spirit to give me literally every word, every gesture, every movement for the following few days was equally as intense. I’m grateful for the experience and extremely humbled by Jesus’ intervention, but the devastation, the deep sadness, the hopelessness and confusion … these reveal our desperate need for an ever-present God who genuinely cares for each of us. God help us …

That said, I facilitated two Grief and Loss Seminars here at the Y. The numbers have been small, but the message has been relevant, informative, and life-giving. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

Last Sunday morning, I taught about principles for wise decision-making from Proverbs at Church of the Lookout — one of my favorite places to teach! If you’re interested, you can hear the sermon at youtube.com/@thelookout.church. For the next four Sundays, I’ll be teaching on the subject of Prayer on Sunday mornings in Longmont and Stoneham, CO, and Sunday evenings in Carpenter, WY. I love what Pete Greig says in The Vision is Jesus:

The point of prayer is not the power that it releases but the Person it reveals. I don’t pray because I’m into prayer. I pray because I’m into Jesus, so we talk. I don’t believe in the power of prayer. I believe in the power of Jesus, so I ask for His help. A lot. The vision is Jesus. Everything else is secondary.

On that note, I’ll close ’til next month. Thanks for listening, for praying for me, and for supporting Get the Word Out in such a variety of ways. We’re all in this together …

With love and appreciation, Mary Jean :)

Ways to partner: Give online at getthewordout.cc/give · Venmo: @Mary Jean Powers / Get the Word Out · By check: Get the Word Out, 4210 Vulcan Creek Dr. Unit 208, Loveland, CO 80538.