Pastor’s Paragraph - January 21, 2021

Dear Beloved Siblings,

How are you? As I write, I hold you in my heart and look forward to worshipping together in-person when it is safe to do so. Please be in touch if there are ways we can be of support to you as we continue this journey of life.

As I prayed about what to share with you this week, I thought about being in Haiti this time of the year twenty-one years ago. I went with a group that one of my professors from Eastern Kentucky University knew. I was supposedly going to offer occupational therapy services, but I was not ready. I was a new graduate and not prepared for any settings outside of where I had done internships. At that time, I had not yet served on the board of Global Ministries or taken any classes on missiology (the theology of mission) to understand the ideas of partnership in mission. I did not offer much, but I learned a lot, and for that I humbly give thanks.

I still remember many things vividly. One precious gift that I still carry with me was a walk up and down a mountain with a little boy. I remember that he asked about my watch, my shoes, and my Bible. He shared that his favorite verse was Psalm 121. He recited it. It sounded different walking in the mountains of Haiti rather than the flat lands of where I had grown up. In these days of pandemics, this little boy still offers me a gift – a gift of hope and help. Much may be unknown and uncertain, but I know my help comes from the maker of the hills, the sun, and the moon. God our ever-present Help offers us eternal love and grace and invites us to share this love and grace with others. May these words offered and echoed for thousands of years all around the world offer you blessings this day, dear ones.

With gratitude and prayers,

Sarah

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 The Lord will not let your foot be moved;
the Lord who keeps you will not slumber.
4 The Lord 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;
the Lord will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

Psalm 121