Pastor’s Corner – April 28, 2022

Dear Beloved,

Do you remember the first profession you imagined being when you were little? From age five until Advance Unified Math my junior year in high school, I wanted to be a school psychologist. While my professional plan changed, my commitment to mental health didn’t. During college, I was blessed to do internships at a residential facility for girls in really difficult situations in Buckhead, KY, a dual diagnosis program at a shelter for men who were unhoused in Lexington, and a psychiatric unit at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI. In college and throughout my adult life, I have also benefited from support from professional counselors. I am deeply supportive of talking about our mental health needs just like our physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational needs. It is a blessing that our denomination of the United Church of Christ and our Indiana-Conference care about the mental and emotional well-being.

This year during Holy Week, I noticed something different about a passage in Mark 12 that I’m sure I’ve read every Holy Week. I am still pondering it. I’ll share it below and hope to reflect more on it with you sometime. In the meantime, I’d like to invite you to join us for the conversation with Dr. Cara Pratt who has experience with children and teens. If you have time, please let me know if you plan to come because we hope to provide food. It will be on Sunday, May 1st around noon after you’ve had time to stop in the narthex to write a letter for the Bread for the World Offering of Letters. We will gather in the Kendall Children and Family Center. Please be in touch with any questions.

With gratitude and hope,

Sarah

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Mark 12:28-34