Holy Mathematics
August 5, 2021
August 5, 2021
Check out that spiderweb,” one of my good friends said, pointing to the arachnid artwork suspended between branches on a shrub. Almost with reverence, she pointed out the equidistant spokes and the expanding spiral in the webbing.
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Much of our world contains similar patterns, shapes, and equations – like the spirals of a pinecone, the nautilus chambers in a shell, and the hexagonal symmetry of a snowflake. While some view them for their beauty, they are also mathematical wonders using equations such as the Fibonacci Sequence or the Golden Ratio. All around us we see sacred geometry pointing to a Creator who perfectly and lovingly designed the universe and everything in it.
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You also have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). In those moments when you are feeling discouraged, disappointed, ashamed, less-than, remember that the Holy Architect created you. Society may tell you that you should be smarter, richer, thinner, funnier. But God, who made even slimy snails with mathematical perfection, designed and created you to be just as you are meant to be.
Paradoxes
March 25, 2021
March 25, 2021
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While the Biblical book of 1 Corinthians has some lovely passages, its description of Christianity would make a terrible sales pitch. Paraphrased, it says “the cross is a ridiculous way to offer salvation” (18:1), “God’s plan seems foolish to most people” (18:20), and “oh by the way, we’re all a bunch of losers, which is how we know God is with us” (18:26-29). This is not a description of the life of faith that would make people want to join a church.
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However, in the season of Lent, it does seem appropriate. This sacred time is full of contradictions and confusion, as we accompany the Prince of Peace toward a violent and humiliating death. It is also an accurate portrayal of Christians – despite knowing how to live ethically and faithfully, we repeatedly disappoint. Yet, out of pain and failures, God offers hope, healing, and salvation.
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As Holy Week draws every closer, I invite you to reflect on how God has provided new life in the midst of a problem in your life. Perhaps it involved a broken relationship, a health concern, a personal crisis. How was God present? How did God offer healing?
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May the paradoxes of Lent remind you that all things are possible with God
Tree Hugging
March 4, 2021
March 4, 2021
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While our house is in a residential area, it is surrounded by enough trees that we feel as though we are in the woods. Having spent considerable time at home this past year, I have enjoyed tree gazing. While the other seasons have brighter colors, the trees in winter carry their own beauty. Realizing that many of these trees have lived for over a century brings me hope. They have endured storms and droughts, pollution, and housing developments, and still they have survived.
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I recently learned that trees have their own social networks. Researches have found that they communicate and cooperate through an undergrown network of threadlike fungi that connect the trees. What’s more, the trees help one another! Older and stronger trees will help younger and weaker ones. The fungal network allows them to warn other trees about threats like insects.
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During this pandemic, even though many of us have felt isolated and alienated, we remain interconnected. Instead of subterranean fungi, we are connected by the Holy Spirit. I am continually inspired and grateful for the gestures of kindness and generosity I see in our church – for the people shopping for the homebound, calling to check on another, delivering Lenten Bags, praying for those in need, editing our online worship services. God is working in and through you in many ways!
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As pandemic fatigue affects us all, remember that we are all in the network of God’s love, which sustains us, encourages us, and strengthens us in even our most difficult times.
Unto Us A Child Is Born
Friday, December 4, 2020
Friday, December 4, 2020
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
~ Isaiah 9:6 ~
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
~ Isaiah 9:6 ~
Babies with chubby cheeks, big eyes, and gentle coos – we know cute when we see it! Since they are so innocent and defenseless, we want to nurture and protect them. When babies are born, they are full of potential. While we know infants are delightful, we do not know most things about them yet. What kind of personality will they have? What will their like and dislikes be? Will they be artists or engineers or nurses or farmers? What will they accomplish when they are older?
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When Christ was sent to earth, he came as a baby – small and helpless, weak and needy. Wrapped in rags and lying in a feeding trough while his parents slept on the stable floor, Jesus looked like nothing more than a poor peasant child. Babies born in first century Israel had few options and limited potential.
Jesus, however, was unlike any other person. He not only had the potential to grow into the Messiah, he was sent to earth specifically for that reason. Mary and Joseph had heard from Angel Gabriel that their son was special, but they could not have imagined what God had in store. They could not have known that when he was grown he would heal the sick and cure the disabled, that massive crowds would hang on his every word, that the entire world would be changed forever because of him. |
Other than God, the only one who really understood was Isaiah, who prophesied about who Jesus was. Isaiah said it clearly: “Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. And he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
As Christmas draws closer, may we celebrate the promise of God that comes to us in the Christ Child.
As Christmas draws closer, may we celebrate the promise of God that comes to us in the Christ Child.
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Bent, Bowed, and Blessed
Tuesday, September 24, 2020 When Jesus stood on that hillside and shared the Beatitudes with the people, he knew full well that they were struggling and suffering. The most fortunate among them were peasants, who barely scraped by. The less fortunate, were viewed as disposable; if they disappeared, society wouldn’t even notice. And Jesus told them that they were indeed blessed by God (Matthew 5:3-10).
While this forced flexibility has been difficult and frustrating at times, it has also been a blessing. The church has been bent and bowed as we figure out new ways to do Christ’s work. And while many things may appear different, the fundamentals of the church remain – connecting with God, serving those in need, and fostering relationships with fellow Christians! Getting through this pandemic, I have appreciated the non-Biblical beatitude “Blessed are the flexible"; it reminds me that the work of the church is ever evolving, that God is blessing us when we are required to change, and that God is stretching us in preparation for new and wonderful ministry! |
In the Dark
Tuesday, September 3, 2020 While losing power during a storm is frustrating, I secretly enjoy not having the lights on for a few days. Don’t get me wrong – I intensely dislike losing power to the fridge, the internet, and (most of all) the well. But there is something refreshing about not having lights. Without them, we can appreciate the blessings of the dark. It forces us to tune into the cycle of the days, as we need to be productive while the sun is up, and as we experience the imposed darkness of night when can enjoy rest and quiet.
I do not need to list all of the crises of 2020 to remind you that right now feels like a dark time. It is easy to get discouraged, depressed, anxious, and angry. At the same time, all of these difficult feelings have a message from God for us. Perhaps God is telling us to cherish our loved ones, or take care of those who are most vulnerable, or treat yourself with extra gentleness, or speak up to insist on change. In this difficult time, God is shining in the darkness, offering guidance, healing, and hope. As people of faith, we place our faith in this promise, in the assurance that God is with us in the secret, silent, shadowy places.
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Creation and Restoration
Friday, June 26, 2020
Friday, June 26, 2020
My first aloe plant was given to me two decades ago, right after I had burned a finger in a church kitchen. Even though houseplants do not usually survive under my care, the aloe did. It requires minimal attention, while providing me with healing goo in its leaves. Whenever I see aloe, I am reminded that God created this world with the ability to heal itself.
As the pandemic has forced many things to slow down or stop altogether, our planet has experienced healing. The decrease carbon emissions has had a positive effect on the environment. Now there is clear water in the canals in Venice, as well as blue skies above cities like Delhi. God’s world is healing.
As the pandemic has forced many things to slow down or stop altogether, our planet has experienced healing. The decrease carbon emissions has had a positive effect on the environment. Now there is clear water in the canals in Venice, as well as blue skies above cities like Delhi. God’s world is healing.
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Most of us have looked out at the beauty of creation and felt God’s nearness. Having lived in various parts of this country, I have been blessed with numerous landscapes given by God – the mountains of Albuquerque, the beaches of New Jersey, the buttes of Nebraska, and the colorful autumns of Connecticut – each gorgeous in their own way.
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In this time of safety precautions and social distancing, we can still enjoy the closeness of creation, which connects us with God. There are sacred signs of life all around us, such as birds at the feeder and hard green tomatoes on the stalk, and trees that are older than we know – all of which reflect the glory of God. What gifts of creation do you see outside your window? What is God growing around you? How has God’s creation blessed you?
This week, I invite you to keep your eyes open to the divine presence in creation around you, so that you may experience God’s nearness and celebrate God’s goodness.
This week, I invite you to keep your eyes open to the divine presence in creation around you, so that you may experience God’s nearness and celebrate God’s goodness.
“In God’s hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
~ Psalm 95:4-6
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
~ Psalm 95:4-6
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Summer Sabbath
Thursday June 18, 2020 Even though summer officially begins on June 20th, in my mind it starts immediately after the last day of school. That is when our schedules change and feel more relaxed, as we enjoy all that the hot months have to offer. This year, though, is a summer unlike any we’ve ever experienced before. Overnight camps and town fairs have been cancelled. Some beloved summer activities are reopening, yet the anxieties over spreading germs makes us think twice before going to the farmers’ market, or the beach, or on vacation.
While needing to spend time at home to be safe during this pandemic may appear to give us a break from our usual responsibilities, it does not qualify as a Sabbath break. Honoring the Sabbath involves spiritual renewal. It is when we celebrate, appreciate, and enjoy the blessings of God. Perhaps for you this means taking a long nap, or jumping on the trampoline with your kids, or having a lovely dinner with your partner. Even though some of our usual practices are not accessible this summer, there are many other ways that you can honor the Sabbath. Think for a few moments:
Reflecting on these questions will guide you to options for honoring the Sabbath, even in this strange and limiting time. As God promises us blessings and as Christ came to give us abundance of life, the Sabbath is a divine gift to you. May you enjoy it, and may it draw you closer to God. |
Telling Time
Tuesday June 9, 2020 Many of us are tied to our clocks and calendars. After all, we have appointments to keep and deadlines to meet, and wasting time is a luxury most of us cannot afford. In the Bible, this kind of time is called Chronos. Chronos is the linear, measurable time that determines our schedules.
The Bible also to another kind of time: Kairos. Kairos refers to situational time, windows of opportunity, times to seize the moment. The Kingdom of God happens in Kairos time, with a focus on living God’s will.
As a community of faith that follows Christ’s teachings, we are called to add our voices in this Kairos moment. Like the birthing process is often painful, frightening, and tiring, the work of birthing a world of equality, justice, and respect may also be uncomfortable. Yet, we can trust that God is with us, offering guidance, encouragement, and strength.
May God guide us faithfully through this Kairos time of opportunity and change. |
Pain and Prayer
Tuesday June 2, 2020
Tuesday June 2, 2020
This has been a week of excruciating pain for our nation. We have been horrified and outraged over the videos George Floyd lying restrained with a knee on his neck, as we watched some of the last moments of his life. As a result, the pain and anger of his killing has erupted across the country in destructive and deadly ways.
On Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the faithful and formed them into the church. In the Bible, the word for “spirit” (ruach in Hebrew; and pneuma in Greek) is also used to mean “wind” or “breath.” The Holy Spirit is the breath of God, breathing life into creation. This year, as we celebrate the breath of God on Pentecost, we also mourn George Floyd who repeatedly said, “I cannot breathe” in his last moments. What terrible irony!
On Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the faithful and formed them into the church. In the Bible, the word for “spirit” (ruach in Hebrew; and pneuma in Greek) is also used to mean “wind” or “breath.” The Holy Spirit is the breath of God, breathing life into creation. This year, as we celebrate the breath of God on Pentecost, we also mourn George Floyd who repeatedly said, “I cannot breathe” in his last moments. What terrible irony!
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In the Bible, we read of the faithful people crying to God in their most painful times, pleading with God for help and healing. And now, we echo Psalm 6:3-4, which reads, “My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.” When we are unable to find the solutions we need, we turn to God.
Like the Psalmist, I also cry out to God in prayer. I pray for peace – not the pretend peace that comes with silence, but the peace of Christ which comes with the end of oppression. I pray for forgiveness, for centuries of injustice and oppression, for becoming numb to the racism around us. I pray for unity, so that this divided nation may come together and work together for the good of all people. I pray for justice, that the fairness and equity and mercy of God may guide how we behave. I pray for wisdom to understand how we can move forward, valuing every person and treating them with dignity. I pray for hope, trusting that nothing is too broken for God to breathe new life into. As our nation cries out and acts out from the terrible pain we feel, may we all pray together for the wholeness that is so desperately needed. |
As our nation cries out and acts out from the terrible pain we feel,
may we all pray together for the wholeness that is so desperately needed.
may we all pray together for the wholeness that is so desperately needed.
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Soul Food
Wednesday May 27, 2020 The American culture has grown used to having access to food in countless places. Depending on what we want to eat, we could go to the farmers market, the Indian grocery, the Asian market, the kosher deli, even the gas station for groceries. Not having access to as many food options during the pandemic has required adjustments for many of us. While we have plenty of food in our house, preparing it has been the challenge; I have served coal black chicken overcooked on the grill, slightly crunchy spaghetti, and brown scrambled eggs (I still don’t know what happened to them).
In ancient Israel, food was also used in religious ceremonies like the Seder, to seal covenants, to make sacrifices to God. For Jesus, food was more than simple nutrition. He fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, ate with sinners and outcasts, shared the Last Supper with his disciples. These kinds of food fed more than just bodies; they fed spiritual, cultural, and relational hungers.
As God’s precious children, we know that the Lord cares deeply about us and provides for our needs. This week, I invite you to take a few moments and think about what spiritual food God is offering you. How is God addressing your personal hungers? Even in these challenging days, we trust that God knows our hungers, longs for us to be full and whole, and offers us nourishment to feed our souls. |
Listening
Wednesday May 20, 2020 My dog can hear me open the refrigerator from three rooms away, so I know that he can hear me when I yell to him from across the yard. Yet, all too often he feigns deafness. Humphrey simply does not have time for me when he is watching the squirrel in the tree, or eating something he found on the ground, or wading in the drainage stream. No matter how loud and persistent I am, he doesn’t seem to notice.
This week, as the dog ignored my yells to get out of the compost, I began to wonder if this is how God sometimes experiences us. Could God be calling and calling, while we face the wrong way absorbed in some diversion? Is God trying to catch our attention, but we are surrounded by so many distractions that we do not even notice?
God, who loves you more than you can imagine, is speaking a message of life and love for your life. Listen deeply for the sacred message, trying that it holds the key to many blessings. As Christ repeatedly said, “May those who have ears, hear.” |
Oh, Deer!
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
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Living in rural Connecticut, I see a lot of deer – in our yard, in the road, in the woods, in our compost pile. Other people may see them as nuisance animals that eat our gardens and attract ticks, but I see them as beautiful and elegant animals. Even though people have taken over their territory, they manage to survive, as they have for centuries. Psalm 42 refers to the deer who receive care from God, as a metaphor for our reliance on God. “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you,” the psalmist prays.
As we continue this stressful time of isolation, God is providing for us, even more than for the deer. While it is okay to lament the limitations and losses we are enduring, we are also called to accept the nurture God is offering. So today, I invite you to think about finding the care that you need.
God wants you to have fullness of life! So, take care of yourself. Take care of one another. And remember that you are truly precious to God!
Blessings, Judith 
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Psalm 42 ~ “The Message”
A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it-- arrive and drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears-- tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?” These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving-- celebrating, all of us, God’s feast! Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God-- soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God’s prayer. Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, “Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?” They’re out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, Taunting day after day, “Where is this God of yours?” Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God-- soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. |
Show and Tell
Wednesday May 6, 2020
Wednesday May 6, 2020
Working from home, I now understand why Humphrey runs to the window anytime he spots movement outside. A squirrel? Better go bark at it. Neighbors walking by? Wonder where they’re going.
Staying connected to others and to the world is especially important right now. I have been especially thankful for the other people staying in touch. Several times I have been sent videos, poems, and pictures church members have taken, sharing the blessings God sends even in the most difficult of times. Here are some of the heartwarming images I’ve been sent.
Staying connected to others and to the world is especially important right now. I have been especially thankful for the other people staying in touch. Several times I have been sent videos, poems, and pictures church members have taken, sharing the blessings God sends even in the most difficult of times. Here are some of the heartwarming images I’ve been sent.
Stunning rainbow over the church
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Quarter-sized turtle, which was rescued and named Hope
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Daffodils blooming in front of our church building
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These moments of Show & Tell delight my heart and soul! They show how our church stays connected despite social distancing, shares its joys with one another, and celebrates God’s presence all around us.
This week, I would like to encourage you to do one of two things (or both). First choice: take a picture of something special that you see and send it to someone – perhaps a friend or a family member or your pastor (who loves seeing them). Second choice: call someone and let them know you care about them – check in with a church member you have not seen lately, or call a friend and tell them something that makes you happy. Now more than ever, we need to show and tell the goodness of God!
Blessings, Judith
This week, I would like to encourage you to do one of two things (or both). First choice: take a picture of something special that you see and send it to someone – perhaps a friend or a family member or your pastor (who loves seeing them). Second choice: call someone and let them know you care about them – check in with a church member you have not seen lately, or call a friend and tell them something that makes you happy. Now more than ever, we need to show and tell the goodness of God!
Blessings, Judith
A New Thing
Wednesday April 29, 2020
Wednesday April 29, 2020
I have never appreciated windows more than right now. Being safe inside during this stay at home order has made me long for the world beyond my door. Seeing the outside world through my window feels like a gift, especially as we are seeing more signs of spring. From the wildlife in the yard to the red leaves returning to the crabapple tree, God is blessing us with new life.
In this season of Easter, we focus on the Resurrection of Christ, which is the ultimate gift of new life. As people of faith, we know that nothing is too broken for God to fix, nothing too dysfunctional for God to restore, nothing too lifeless for God to save. During this pandemic, the resurrection promise is part of our faith that we hold dear.
In this season of Easter, we focus on the Resurrection of Christ, which is the ultimate gift of new life. As people of faith, we know that nothing is too broken for God to fix, nothing too dysfunctional for God to restore, nothing too lifeless for God to save. During this pandemic, the resurrection promise is part of our faith that we hold dear.
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Even though we may long for the days before COVID-19 – when we could eat at restaurants and send our kids to school and buy toilet paper without worry – we cannot return to the past, no matter how hard we try. What’s more, God never leads us backwards, only forwards. Our God has a long history of taking terrible times and bringing humanity to a better place.
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At this time, we have been given an opportunity to prepare for the new life God has in store by reassessing our priorities, finding creative solutions, experiencing deeper compassion, healing the planet, reconnecting with our faith. While I do not know just how the future will look, I do know that God is leading us into a new life full of positive changes.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
~ Isaiah 43:19
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
~ Isaiah 43:19
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Message from the Pastor
to Parents Thursday, March 19, 2020 Being a parent is difficult in the best of circumstances. With the current coronavirus crisis, it can be overwhelming!
“When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you – in God whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid.” The other especially challenging part of this situation is that our children are not in school. Dealing with emergency childcare can be hard, and having our kids cooped up in the house with us 24/7 is also hard – wow, is it hard!!! Yes, we love them with our whole hearts, but too much togetherness may eventually wear on our nerves.
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Taking Time
Wednesday April 22, 2020 I recently saw a post on Facebook that said, “Until further notice, the days of the week are now called thisday, thatday, otherday, someday, yesterday, today, and nextday.” For many people, the “stay at home” order has created a blurred sense of time, as our days no longer include school bus schedules, designated work hours, or set times for activities. Times and dates and calendars have become a bit nebulous. Even though most of us occasionally have longed for more time at home, now we are struggling because of it.
During this quarantine, I invite you to reflect on what time this is for you. Is it…
In whatever time you find yourself, the message of Ecclesiastes reminds us that God is present with you. As these days of uncertainty continue, may you remember that God is with you during this entire time, helping, leading, grieving, guiding, celebrating, strengthening. Blessings, Judith |
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Creative Christian Community
Wednesday, April 15, 2020 People are created for community.
Part of this is practical; from the dawn of creation, humans have needed others around them to survive. Part of this is psychological, as relationships bring meaning to our lives. For Christians, we know that part of it is spiritual. God has blessed us with other people to share our journey, to join together to do God’s work, to help one another grow in faith. As Christians, we know that the life of faith happens best in community.
Since fellowship in person is not as accessible in this time of social distancing, it is time to think “outside the box.” One option involves connecting “inside the boxes” of our computers, tablets, and smartphones. NGCC has been using Zoom for Sunday worship, and we are also able to use it for online gathers in real time.
If you would like to be part of a Zoom fellowship gathering with other church members, I can set that up. Please contact me by email (it helps if you identify yourself, since I cannot always tell whose email address goes with which person). Let me know days of the week that work for you, as well as time of day (morning, afternoon, evening). Or, if you wish to connect with others who are already part of a church group (such as choir members or Sunday School parents), let me know that as well.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 |
Good Friday Message
Friday, April 10, 2020 This Friday does not feel “good.” Today, there is a heaviness in the air – a mix of sadness and anxiety. Commemorating the crucifixion is always heart-wrenching, as we remember the abuse and execution that Jesus endured. But, this year is especially difficult. With COVID-19 afflicting so many, people are feeling especially somber, even apart from the mournfulness of Good Friday. Staying home to be safe makes good sense, but it also makes people feel almost imprisoned.
And yet, what makes Good Friday “good” happened in that tomb. What we see as a place of death, was actually where a miraculous rebirth happened. Like a caterpillar inside a cocoon that grows and changes into a new creation, Christ’s body did not remain a lifeless corpse. What we see as the Good Friday tomb, God saw as the Good Friday womb.
Today, we sit with the discomfort of confinement. We know that God has promised new life, yet this is not when we celebrate it. This is the day to wait with heavy hearts, mourning the suffering around us, grieving the loss of life, and struggling to make sense of it all.
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Spring Cleaning
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 The great comedic author Erma Bombeck said that the trouble with housecleaning is you do it once, and then six months later you have to do it all again. I have always admired people who could keep their homes immaculate year-round. This time of year, many of us either start spring cleaning or we feel guilty that we haven’t. With most of the population staying at home right now, plenty of people are using the time to clean out closets or organize their boxes of old pictures. (I’m not, but plenty of others are.)
“So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk.” The current pandemic is an opportunity for us to do some spiritual spring cleaning as Peter suggests. This global crisis has already been the catalyst for people to clean up our priorities. Before, we may have focused our energy on wealth or prestige, but now we are prioritizing health, family, and concern for others. This is also a time when we can intentionally clean up our conversations. Instead of only talking about all that frightens and upsets us, we can also speak about the generous gestures, compassionate behavior, and kind-hearted actions that we see all around us. As your pastor, I would encourage you to also clean up your self-care. Take time to pray, to rest, to exercise, to laugh, to play. This may be a difficult time, but God still wants you to have your emotional, spiritual, and physical needs taken care of.
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Of Snakes and Surprises
Thursday, March 26, 2020 I am not a fan of snakes. Previously, I thought they were fascinating, being able to move without limbs, even able to climb trees – how amazing is that! But, after our house became snake infested last summer, my view of them changed rapidly. When I thought we had a couple in the yard, I appreciated their uniqueness. Having well over a hundred in our basement (although never more that a few dozen at a time) was when I stopped being friends with them.
In the book of Numbers, the Hebrew people also had a snake crisis. Venomous snakes were biting and killing the people. When they prayed to God, the unanticipated solution they were offered ironically involved more snakes. “The Lord said to Moses,
‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.” Sometimes there are blessings in the curse. Sometimes the worst things in our lives have surprise gifts for us. As people of faith, we hold that truth in our hearts, trusting that even in our worst times, God creates new life and new possibilities. Kitty O'Meara, who is now considered “Poet Laureate of the Pandemic,” wrote about this. She said:
May the promises of God sustain us all, as we journey together through this uncertain time. Faithfully, Judith |
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"Not all who wander are lost" ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
"But some of us sure are!" ~ Judith Cooke Tuesday, March 24, 2020
One of the great stories of our faith is the Exodus, when God led the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt and brought them to the Promised Land.
However, it was not a straight journey for them. After crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, they spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. While Lent is also a season of traveling through the wilderness, none of us expected this year’s pilgrimage to be a journey through uncertainty and anxiety. As we adjust to this new normal, the faith lessons in the story of the Exodus have been very helpful to me. For instance –
In this time of wilderness wandering for us all, I invite you to reflect on a few questions:
Please remember that this crisis is not forever, that we will help one another through, and that you are not alone! |
Unexpected Blessings
Sunday, March 22, 2020 One of my favorite sayings is a Native American proverb: “Give thanks for unknown blessings already on the way.” In looking back on some of the worst times in my life, I can see how God was lining up solutions and blessings that I was unable to identify while I was in the midst of the dark situation. Whenever problems arise that I cannot solve, I go back to this proverb.
Just a few weeks ago when it was first becoming clear that this pandemic was going to hit hard, I expected to be filled with anxiety. And yes, some of the time I am anxious, but mostly right now I am grateful – overwhelmingly and unexpectedly grateful. People all around the globe are engaging in heartwarming acts of love. Some school districts across the country have been passing out drive through meals for food insecure youth. Professional athletes have been paying the salaries stadium workers who earn low hourly wages. Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer Statue is lit with the flags of other countries afflicted with the coronavirus, and in several languages it shares the message: “We pray together.” And of course, we cannot forget the countless people who are reaching out to care for one another, offering childcare for parents who have to work, buying groceries for neighbors who are at-risk, even sharing toilet paper with those who have none. Truly God’s love is alive and active right now! Personally, this pandemic has shifted some of my own attitude. Two weeks ago, I was bothered that our house needs updating; now I am grateful we have safe shelter. Earlier I was upset that Jamie's education would be disrupted; now having time at home with my son feels precious. Before I was appalled by people's selfishness; now I am moved to tears by their generosity and kindness. Think for a moment about your own life right now. In this difficult time, where do you see gifts of God’s love? What has inspired you? For what are you thankful? How are God’s blessings evident in your life? The apostle Paul also lived in a time of great uncertainty and anxiety. It was not a pandemic that kept people home; it was the threat of the Romans who were abusing, imprisoning, and executing Christians. Yet, in that terrible time, Paul said in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Today, may you see God’s blessings, both in your own life and across the world, and rejoice in the goodness of the Lord.
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Message from the Pastor
Friday, March 20, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
This week, spring has officially sprung. We are entering the season when flowers begin to bloom, buds reappear on the trees, and bird returns north. During this time when many of us are “sheltering in place,” I invite you to honor God’s gift to us of springtime. Look outside for signs of new growth, and thank God for the blessing of life. Listen for the sound of birdsong, and thank God for the songs of praise all around us. Feel the breeze on your skin, and thank God for the movement of the spirit all around you. For at least a few minutes, put aside your worries and fretful imaginings, and trust in God’s promise of renewal and newness of life.
Blessings, Judith
Blessings, Judith
The Other Side of the Virus,
An Opportunity to Awaken...
An Opportunity to Awaken...
- Written by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM, March 13th 2020
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Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood so that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary. All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting. All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way. All over the world people are waking up to a new reality To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. |
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic- The birds are singing again The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing. |
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Message from the Pastor
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 As people around the globe are anxiously watching the news about the spreading coronavirus, the uncertainty and anxiety can feel overwhelming. At the same time, I have found myself deeply touched by the gestures of kindness, the expressions of solidarity, and the trust in God to care for us as we try to cope with this pandemic. Yes, I knew the NGCC community would reach out to help others, yet I still find my heart warmed each time I see it happen.
As we adjust to a new way of life, scripture speaks to us. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul said, For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
This is a wonderful verse to repeat to yourself when you begin to feel anxious. God has blessed us with power to take action, with love to care for one another, and with sound mind to make wise decisions. What’s more, we are not alone! We have one another, and most importantly we have God!
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. ~ Jeremiah 33:6 ~ |
Message from the Pastor
Sunday, March 15, 2020 When choosing what to give up for Lent, none of us wanted it to be church gatherings. Fortunately, the church is not the building; it is the community of people. Even though we are not going to be together in groups at NGCC, we are still connected and united as a faith family.
Earlier this week, I found myself humming one of my favorite hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul.” This hymn was written by Horracio Spafford after all four of his daughters died in a shipwreck in 1873, and it is a cry of faith in his time of anguish. His words about faith in times of crisis are also encouraging now in these anxious times. He wrote:
These lyrics are especially meaningful now as the world races to slow the coronavirus. While our faith as Christians lies in the promises of God in even our worst times, we must also take practical measures to keep our church members, employees, and community as safe as possible – which is why our church leaders made the difficult and painful decision to suspend church for a few weeks. As the old Russian proverb says: “Trust in God, but row for the shore.”
Please remember that though the church building is temporarily closed, the ministry of NGCC is not! If you have any spiritual, pastoral, or emergency needs, please contact me. I encourage you to check on and reach out to one another in love. Pray for one another, for the healing of those who are sick, for the needs of the world facing this pandemic. Trust in the Lord, whose promises inspire us to joyfully sing “It is well, it is well, with my soul.” In this difficult time, may we keep our hearts focused on God’s presence around us, guiding us and comforting us and sustaining us. Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. ~ Jeremiah 33:6 ~ |