Dear friends in Christ,
I’ve been doing some research on sheep this week in preparation for Sunday’s preaching, and I learned that sheep need some pretty basic things to thrive:
- Food
- Water
- A path to travel
Well, that got me thinking that we need pretty much the same things—in addition to a roof over our heads. We need food and water, and we also need to know where it is we are headed. All of us need the basics for life, but we also need a purpose. As Christians, we have a great purpose in following Jesus and also discovering how we can be part of a community of faith and help to renew the world around us.
Sheep often need to travel a narrow and rocky path through a valley to get to new pasture land where they can eat safely. And the wonderful 23rd psalm reminds us that: “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
The thing about the valley of the shadow of death is this: we go through a shadow—we aren’t blockaded by it. So even though we feel locked down right now, we are walking through the valley and we will be coming out the other side into green pasture.
This treasure of our scriptures—Psalm 23—also reminds us that even in the midst of our enemies (and let’s say that COVID is an enemy!), God Anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows. We have so much to be thankful as this community of faith, even in the midst of a very challenging season.
This Sunday we will spend joyful time together as part of our inter-generational ZOOM Family Worship. We remember the goodness of God to us and we worship the Risen Christ despite all that is happening around us. You’re invited to join us!
You are also invited to join me for Spirit of Invitation—a 6 week discipleship course beginning on May 18 at 7pm. Please visit our website or call Edward at the Church office to register. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow together this spring!
Finally, we marked Earth Day this week, and perhaps when we are all outside going for our walk, notice the blessing of the natural world and thank God for giving us trees and birds and flowers, and let us all try to find ways to “safeguard the integrity of God’s creation and respect, sustain, and renew the life of the earth” as our prayer book asks us in the service of Holy Baptism.
With gratitude and blessings,
Molly+
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