Pastor’s Corner – February 29, 2024

Dear Beloved,

What symbols are most meaningful to you these days? Which ones do you use the most when texting? Are there signs or symbols that serve as special reminders? If you’d like to share responses to any of these questions with me, I’d enjoy getting to know you better by learning about symbols that are helpful to you.

Symbols have been on my mind, heart, and soul a lot lately. Words are so powerful - they have the power to harm and to heal, to break and to mend. Our Psalm from the beginning of Lent included verses about how we use our tongue (and for me it is often what I type). Lately I’ve found myself struggling to find the words to express my true feelings...which has led me to sit in silence with God...wondering and asking for help. And even then, I haven’t been clear on many things. Maybe this is why symbols have been on my mind a lot - or maybe because much of our communication now often includes symbols, and I wonder what some of them mean to the variety of people with whom I communicate - or maybe because Friedens began the season of Lent with an Ash Worship service that included many symbols. One of those symbols was ashes. Whether you were able to participate in the service or not, what do ashes mean to you?  

In my last few notes to you, I’ve been reflecting on the fruit of the Spirit. As I continue to reflect on them in this season of Lent, I am asking myself - are the words and symbols that I say and send reflecting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity in some translations), gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control? That is my intent, but sometimes I know the impact is not the same as the intent. May God’s wisdom and grace help us as we seek to reflect God’s unstoppable everlasting love and hope in all we are and do. As my dad always prayed before each sermon that I heard him preach, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:15) If my words or symbols have ever been unhelpful to you, I am sorry. Thank you for the opportunity to be in community with you - to grow, learn, worship, serve, cry, laugh, pray, be still, wonder, remember, celebrate, praise, and play together as we seek to live and love as followers of Jesus our Leader. I look forward to hearing about your signs and symbols, and I pray that you will know throughout this season of Lent and always that you are a beloved child of God.

In community and gratitude,

Sarah