Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I wanted to share with you want we discussed during our Zoom Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 20th following our Sunday Service.
We first discussed Father Jay’s sermon, about how the pillars of society have failed us and how the powers in charge of our Nation are not guiding us and supporting us as they should. And we recognize that this lack of leadership has created more fear within the United States. Father Jay pointed out that right now fear is constantly surrounding us during the Pandemic.
We acknowledged Father Jay’s point that when we are operating from a place of fear, we sometimes don’t make our best choices.
We unanimously agreed with Father Jay’s point that nothing is impossible with God. God can and will help us through these fearful and difficult times.
I then read from the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 28 which says,
“See I am laying in Zion a foundation of stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation, ‘One who trusts will not panic.’”
Isaiah 28:6
We must trust, through our faith in God, that fear will not dominate our lives. That we can overcome these uncertain, fear dominated times through turning to God through our faith and prayer.
I then read a poem from Bishop’s Ranch Fall Newsletter of this year entitled, “We Kept Extending That Time” by Laurie Glover. The author used the words from a Zoom Gathering ofthe Acorn Society in early June of this year, where members heard updates about the Ranch during COVID time.
Times are certainly different than we have ever experienced before in our lifetimes. But as Father Jay’s sermon stressed nothing is impossible with God.
And we must believe that we can persevere with whatever challenges come our way through profound faith, love and trust in God.
Many blessings to you and yours!
Peace and love,
Deacon Lauren
Audio Recording
Listen to Deacon Lauren’s reflection.
We Kept Extending That Time by Laurie Glover
The divisions reveal that the suffering is
everywhere.
Frankly, it’s a grim time,
not ideal, but a gift:
We get to decide what to stir up.
Frankly, it’s a grim time.
nothing of the usual swirling around.
Though we get to decide what to stir up,
I have no exact answer how it’s going to look.
Nothing of the usual swirling around:
we don’t know up from down, left from right,
have no exact answers how it’s going to look,
and yet and yet we persevere.
We don’t know up from down, left from right.
By the end of the year that number will be
more than a million.
And yet and yet we persevere.
Show us what our work is to do.
By the end of the year the number will be more
than a million:
Are you healthy? How can we help?
Show us what our work is to do.
I’m just grateful we can see each other.
Are you healthy? How can we help?
It was looking like things were beginning to
flow;
now I’m just grateful we can see each other.
It will be difficult, it will be hard.
It was looking like things were beginning to
flow,
but the divisions reveal that suffering is
everywhere.
It will be difficult, it will be hard,
Not ideal, yet still a gift.
