Sometimes the invisible becomes visible. Yesterday morning, there was a little snow storm that dropped less than an inch of powdery snow that was so light it was easily picked up by the strong winds and the particular wind patterns that would have otherwise been invisible to our eyes was made visible by the airborne snow.
So it is with us, too, Friends, as we allow the Love that is God to work through us. The invisible presence of God becomes visible through our words, actions and (if we practice enough) even through our thoughts. Through us, God becomes visible to others. Let’s take a moment for that truth to settle in. It is a responsibility and also a privilege. Let’s get to work, Friend. There is not one single interaction or action that you can not improve upon today by giving more of your love, kindness and light. Listen a little more intently, let a positive word of encouragement be at the ready for whomever you come in contact with, whatever you do let it be done with care and attention, and also be kind to yourself because we can not love others if we do not first love ourselves. Friend, let’s make visible the infinite Love that is God; in doing so, we affect great and positive changes. So be it. Amen.
“Christ is all, and is in all.Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” -Colossians 3: 11-15
We had a very productive Annual Meeting this past Sunday. The work of the church requires energy, attention and time in order to maintain a place of learning where all are welcome, where we put our priorities into action, where we regard the needs of others as important as our own, and where community is tried, tested, created and recreated, again and again. Thank you for your good work, wherever you are. You are the church (chURch!)
We hosted 40 for the turkey dinner last night and raised 230 dollars for the Food Pantry. Thanks to all the cooks and servers and cleaner-up-ers who provided a delicious meal and a chance to get to know our neighbors. The next dinner is (always the 4th Tuesday) Feb. 25th at 5:30. The main course will be a variety of meatloaves and we will also offer a vegetarian option. Yum!
Meal Train for the Bardens
Jean Barden is in a physical therapy program and meal support would be very much welcomed at this time.
The meals should be as heart healthy as possible. Their likes and some dislikes are listed on the Meal Train site; tomato/pasta dishes and fish should be added to dislikes.
PLEASE CALL JEAN at 603-563-8006 a day or two ahead of your delivery with both day and time of arrival, as well as what you will be preparing.
Beloved source of love we call God, I am grateful for the clarifying qualities of winter, for warmth in the midst of cold, for community in the midst of an individualistic society, and for the constancy of human compassion in the midst of human suffering. May we bear witness to the power of Jesus’s teaching that all are deserving of God’s mercy and grace. May we bear witness to the power of a love so wide and deep and all-encompassing that nothing is beyond its reach. This I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
“You shine like stars in the world.” -Philippians 2:15
