Gratitude Is an Act of Faith

A friend recently suggested that faith is anemic without gratitude.

As I reflect upon our Stewardship Celebration, I see the gratitude we each offer to God and to each other. I even see the gratitude for the struggles we have walked through. These struggles have helped us strengthen our identity and purpose. Even though we have felt vulnerable and uncertain at times, we have seen God’s hand of protection. Even though we have felt lost and overwhelmed at times, we have seen God’s guidance.

What we must never forget is that often God’s protection and guidance have been experienced because of how we have embraced one another with patience and grace, and how we have invited others into our pain and our weariness.

In Sunday’s sermon, which focused on community, we witnessed an event from the 2000 Olympics. The swimmer’s name is Eric Moussambani. It’s obvious that his lack of training and naivety put him in a situation destined for failure. And, even though he certainly did not win a medal, he is anything but a failure.

Click here for the video.

This moment from 22 years ago resonates with so many of us. Is it because it shows the power of community and vulnerability?

Can one be grateful without being vulnerable?

By the way, Eric continued to train and cut his time by almost one minute.

May we not only keep the faith — may we finds ways to share it gratefully with others.

Pastor Jo

October 24, 2022

#thejourneycontinues

This past Sunday was a wonderful day of celebration and renewal for our church family. As I reflect upon all that we experienced I am reminded of the steps that brought the vision of the Stewardship Celebration into reality.

*Team meetings, conversations, emails, and texts

*Brainstorming, discussing, bringing different preferences, ideas, and curiosities into one conversation

*Being willing to listen and ponder together

*Inviting and recruiting others to use gifts, talents, and resources

*Staying accountable to one another and to the tasks

*Asking for help when we needed it

Psalm 121 was our guide in worship, and honestly, the Psalm has a refreshed meaning and call on my life.

Think about the progression!

*Name the journey - the obstacle, task, struggle, uncertainty.

*Invite God into the journey

*Once we do that we experience the encouragement of others!

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday! Certainly our journey continues!

Pastor Jo

October 17, 2022

Be Still and Know

“I go among trees and sit still.

All my stirring becomes quiet

around me like circles on water.

My tasks lie in their places

where I left them, asleep like cattle.”

--Wendell Berry

I love this imagery… chances are you can also see it in your mind… a time to relax, feel the breeze, and breathe deeply. But the truth is rarely do we find ourselves near a patch of trees so we trudge on, dismissing the time to sit still. In Jewish tradition a person would take their prayer shawl and place it over their head. This was their way of “shutting out the world” and allowing the True Light to shine and to speak.

So what if today you set your timer for 15 minutes, 5 minutes, or even 3 minutes and shut out the noise, put down your to-do list and simply said, “God, I love you. God, I do not come with a fix-it list. I only come because I love you.” And what if you simply sat still and let come what may?

Would you find a moment to reconnect to what is important? Would you find the direction to help settle the conflict in your schedule or your heart? Would you sense God’s love for you? Would you sense a call to embrace that love?

There’s only one way to find out.

Pastor Jo

October 4, 2022