Pastor’s Paragraph - September 17, 2020
In the midst of the pandemic we are also enduring hurricanes and wildfires. Many have suffered illness, death, displacement, the loss of property and the emotional toll that catastrophe entails. Our hearts and prayers go out to those suffering.
The faith and mission of Friedens Church steadies us and gives us something helpful to do.
Our trust in a God who is present in our sufferings brings an abiding sense of peace and strength.
The message of our Leader, Jesus, that we are the loved and loving children of God reminds us of who we are and whose we are.
The mission of sharing Christ's love helps us affirm we are one human family and empowers us to lend a helping hand to our sisters and brothers. We are in this together and we need each other.
The reservoir of spiritual practices in our tradition is a source of calm in the storm, a way to discover peace when anxiety unsettles us.
Here is a spiritual practice Julie, Ashley and I are following, and I encourage your household to try. It is based on this invitation from our sacred and ancient tradition: cast your cares on God, for God cares for you.
It is a simple two step practice:
Each day name a specific care, worry, concern or burden you are feeling.
Ask God to help carry that worry or burden.
This simple practice is a way to acknowledge that we are never alone and we never need to shoulder all of life's burdens by ourselves. We are in this together with Christ our Leader, Friend and Helper.
May the peace of Christ be with you,
Marc
