REKINDLE THE LIGHT
A message from The Rev. Rilla Barrett

Dear Friends,

Several evenings ago, a life-long and dear friend phoned me out of the blue – just to talk. We hadn’t spoken for more than five years, and it was such a pleasant surprise to hear her voice. Darkness has surrounded her for much of her adult life, and we spent more than an hour and a half speaking and listening deeply to one another. She talked about the unrelenting sadness in her life, about the individuals around her who had been altered by their own poor choices, and about the effect of all of that on her and her health. And then, gently and together, we shifted into reminiscing over sweet memories of our lives as girls growing up in the same neighborhood, about classmates, and then about the current challenges in the today’s life. When it was clearly time to hang up, we said, pretty much at the same time, how good we both felt just to talk, to reconnect. God was in the midst of that conversation, I know, and I give thanks today for her phone call and for other friendships and their impact on my life. God has blessed me with an abundance of precious relationships – family and friends.

Albert Schweitzer wisely said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

In good times and difficult times, we need one another. Our lights can go out. For whom do you give thanks? It may be someone you haven’t thought of or talked to in a long time. Pick up the phone, send an email, rekindle the light, and be grateful.

Faithfully,
Rilla+

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Beginning on August 19, we will have a book study by Zoom of So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. We will plan on 4 sessions at 5:30 pm. on Wednesdays for about an hour.

This book is written by a Black woman from Seattle as a guide for the difficult conversations that we find ourselves needing to enter into in these days. It is a practical and eye-opening read. It is intended both for readers who are People of Color or are white.

The book is available at all the usual outlets and also on Kindle. Please read through Chapter 5 before our first meeting date.

Feel free to invite others to join and email The Rev. Josefina Beecher know if you will be joining us and/or if you have any questions.

We will send out the Zoom invitation the week of the first meeting.

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JOIN US FOR VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR Sundays 10:45 am

Join Zoom Meeting via SMART PHONE, IPAD OR COMPUTER here:
https://zoom.us/j/92816563437?pwd=alAvTHljQlpGVS9hc2I1K0E5ODVnQT09
Meeting ID: 928 1656 3437
Password: 204251
or...
If you are using your LANDLINE OR CELL PHONE, please call
        +1 253 215 8782
You will be prompted to punch in your meeting ID number followed by # 
Meeting ID: 928 1656 3437# You then will be asked to enter your pass code followed by # Passcode: 204251#

If you normally place your pledge in the offering plate on Sundays, please consider mailing it while worship services are cancelled to 382 Boblett St., Blaine, WA 98230. You may also click on the "Donate Now" button or this link to be connected to the secure giving page on our website. Thank you!

Please note that pledges may be modified or changed, especially if you are experiencing financial hardship during the pandemic. Email Susan Thomson, our pledge secretary, if you need to make any changes.

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