04/21/2026
By Carol McDermott
The weather this week has been crazy! Hot, cold, sun, snow blizzard – just spin the weather bottle and take your pick! We left Ft. Lupton on Friday at about 12:30 and were right in the middle of the snow and wind! Luckily most people on the Interstate were taking it a bit slower than usual – the roads were wet, but not slick. Visibility was terrible with the snow blowing across the highway. We were so thankful to run out of it from time to time. We are thankful for the moisture but hope there's more coming! Today was a wonderful service. Some of our Praise Team members were out of town, so Richard and Rebecca, De La Vega, Mike Wilbur, Jack Clancy, Rachel Somlyai, Sue Hubert, and Clete Larson led the Praise Team Music. We had a Bass guitar, 3 guitars, a ukelele and the piano for accompaniment. It was such fun, and the congregation really responded with hearty singing. Mike Wilbur had the Children's sermon and talked about the two men who were walking to Emmaus after the resurrection and had an encounter with Jesus, who they did not recognize at first. Mike had 3 boys put on blindfolds and search for some lights that he had put in 3 places in the back of the sanctuary. They had such fun searching and Mike talked about how the lights in back were bright, but they couldn't find them even though they were in Plain Sight for all of us. Great!
Pastor Anna's message was titled "In Plain Sight" and based on Luke 24:13-35, the story of the two men on their way to Emmaus who encountered Jesus, but didn't recognize him, even though he was "in plain sight". She talked about the brain fog most new parents experience after the birth of a new baby. The exhilaration often turns to exhaustion. She said we may find ourselves moving through life in a fog longing for a sign from God that He will "Do Something" to help us – some kind of sign, that we really do matter to God and there is a purpose in all of this.
The men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus were joined by another traveler who asked them about why they were so downcast. They shared their disappointment and dashed dreams with him, somewhat surprised that the stranger had not heard about the crucifixion of Jesus, the prophet they had hoped would be their King and re-establish their nation to sovereignty. The stranger then began to explain the ancient prophesies beginning with Moses and on through the Old Testament that the Messiah must suffer and die. When they sit down for a meal and he broke the bread, their eyes were opened. The stranger was none other than Jesus himself! Imagine being there to observe all of this taking place. The men, though tired from their walk to Emmaus were energized by this miracle and went right back to Jerusalem to tell the others what they had just seen and heard.
She said "miracles can be missed even though they are in 'plain sight'. God invites us to clear the fog and stop waiting for the 'big sign,' to start witnessing the graces right under our noses". Think of a gorgeous sunset, a person erring on the side of love and compassion, the miracle of a beating heart inside your chest, the air we breathe, but can't see, a toddler putting on his shoes. Yes, miracles are all around us.
Step out of the fog, because Christ is risen. He is right here among us, in our ordinary lives, and in plain sight.
