I hope and pray that each of you is doing well!

Dear Congregation,

I hope and pray that each of you is doing well! I am grateful that we’re able to be together in Sunday worship, whether in the Garden Chapel in person, or connected through Facebook live-streaming. Being in community as we worship is a comfort as we center ourselves in the eternal, loving, hopeful presence of God. There are so many worrisome events in the news that it can feel as if we are reeling from blow after blow after blow—sky high Covid-19 numbers of infections and deaths, the impeachment of President Trump, the aftermath of insurrection in our Capitol, worry about safety during President-elect Biden’s inauguration this week, difficulty in obtaining an appointment to receive the vaccine, not to mention any personal and family concerns we may be dealing with.

We are truly blessed to be able to sit on a rock in the Garden Chapel and just BE. In the quiet and beauty of that outdoor setting, as we feel a gentle breeze rustling through the trees, hear birdsong, see the bright blue sky and puffy white clouds, it is a gift to relax into the psalmist’s words, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)  Being renewed, we are then strengthened to deal with whatever the future holds.

This Sunday we will be recognizing and celebrating the prophetic life of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he answered God’s call to justice work. The concept that God calls people to speak and to act is a very strong thread in scripture. The promise is that God is with us in this work, renewing, supporting, and strengthening. Our challenge as individuals and as a church, is to listen for God’s call and answer as best we can.

And so I invite you to be present, physically or virtually, Sunday, to refresh your spirit and to focus upon what God might be calling us to do to help further justice and peace in these turbulent times.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Candy