“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” -Genesis 1:27
It was on July 16, 1969, at approximately 9:30 in the morning, that Apollo 11 launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard this ship were three brave men: Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Neil Collins. The massive Saturn V rocket carried the equipment and vehicles the astronauts would need to orbit and land on the moon. It was a moment the whole world would watch with breathless anticipation. A few days later, on July 20, the Eagle would land safely on the moon.
Landing on the moon is one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments. It took a herculean effort to go from the beaches of Florida to Tranquility Base. NASA estimates that it took over 400,000 workers, engineers, scientists, and technicians to make the Apollo program successful. They worked, dreamed, and created a system that would accomplish the goal set out by President John F. Kennedy on May 21, 1961, to the United States Congress. President Kennedy stated, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”
The book of Genesis contains some of the most important theological teachings of our faith. First, God created. God spoke and brought all things into existence. God brought order to chaos. When God created humanity, God created us in His image. “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” That “image” includes our ability to love, serve, and create.
This is an important day to remind ourselves that we are capable of accomplishing far more than we believe we can do. We are a people created by a limitless God. We were created in God’s image. There is no limit to our imagination and creative abilities. Our dreams may take some time to become a reality, but when dreams are accompanied by hard work, the sky is not even the limit for God’s people.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
