Beloved of God,

Sunday is All Saints Day. I know that many of us may not come out of a tradition where we celebrate this day. I certainly didn’t. But as I’ve grown older, and had more and more saints pass out of my life and into the arms of Christ, I’ve come to think that it might not be such a bad thing to stop and remember those folks. We’ve all known saints who have impacted our lives and faith in ways that were deeply important. I think habitually around this time of year about people like my Grandmother, or my friend Ben who helped mentor me early in my work as a teacher. I think about the curmudgeonly old deacon I sat with at church when Mama was in the Choir. I think about people I didn’t know well, but who left a long shadow. I think of Brigid of Ireland who was the greatest indigenous missionary of her era. I think of a 4th century pastor in southern Anatolia, Nicholas, who would walk up to the cliffside each day and pray for his people, most of them fishermen, as their boats sailed out of the bay. I think of Clarence Jordan, who ran a farm in south Georgia in a time when white folk and black folk weren’t supposed to be sharing their table, their work, their prayers and their lives. But he did it anyway because that’s what the Kingdom of God looks like and what it demands.
    Especially in a year when death and disease has seemed so close to so many of us, I think it is helpful to remember these people by name. But in remembering them, it is important to recognize the truth that all of our older brothers and sisters in the faith who have finished their race are now alive in Christ. We are indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. And in living our faith through a time like this, we are drawing on the wisdom, the practices, and the faithful stewardship of those folks who have already passed this way and have made it safely home. One of God’s greatest gifts is the gift of brothers and sisters in Christ who love us, care for us, and guide us. And the most wonderful thing about that gift is that in Christ, even those that we lose along the way will be found someday, with us, in Him.

Please join me this week in praying for:

• God’s wisdom, guidance, and peace for all those participating in our electoral process.
• Those standing for election to the office of president, and other candidates at the federal, state, and local level.
• Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hospital staff and others working for the health and safety of us all in this pandemic.
• In praise for snowfall in a dry land.
• For the students, teachers, and administrators in our community.
• For those who are hopeless, afraid, lonely, or desperate.
• In thanksgiving for the lives of faithful saints who have guided us deeper into the Kingdom of God.
• For those who have known the loss of a loved one this year.
• For those who will someday follow us in faith; that we will have left behind a worthy witness.
• For each other (please email [email protected] if you would like to be added to our prayer list).

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall

Beloved of God,

Many of you will have noticed that we have been spending a good bit of time in Matthew’s Gospel on Sundays. One reason I like using the Lectionary as a tool to plan out which texts to preach on is because you are encouraged to spend time moving deliberately through one book of the Bible, but you are also spending time in other books alongside it, and can reflect on them as the Spirit leads.

But this week, choosing to preach an Old Testament text forces me to miss one of the great passages in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 22:34-40), in which Jesus is asked which is the greatest commandment. Jesus’ answer isn’t in any way controversial. Deut 6:5 has always been considered one of the foundational commands within Judaism. Where this gets interesting is when Jesus offers a second commandment, because nobody asked for that. Furthermore, Jesus suggests that these two commandments are of a like kind. He tells the Pharisees and us that to “love your neighbor as yourself” somehow bears the shape of the command to Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. I would suggest you could even frame it this way: you cannot truly love your neighbor if you will not love God. You cannot truly love God if you will not love your neighbor.

Knowing how to do both of these things well takes a lifetime of work, and an abundance of grace. And doing them both creates a tension between them that we never finally resolve outside of Christ. Christ who was always God before the worlds were forged became for us also a neighbor, a human being. And He alone has lived a life marked by perfect love of both God and neighbor. May we be conformed more and more into his image and learn to practice both loves like Him.

Please join me this week in praying for:

• Protection from, and an end to this pandemic
• Educators in our community during a particularly hectic season
• Those in positions of public trust at the federal, state, and local level
• The two men standing for election to the office of President of the United States
• Doctors, nurses, and other health professionals working for our well-being
• Those who are lonely or afraid
• Those feeling a strain on their mental health
• Our oldest neighbors
• Our youngest neighbors
• Each other (please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list)
  

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall

Beloved of God,

    This has already been quite a week. As we watch numbers of COVID-19 cases rising around the state, and have new restrictions in place by public health order, I have to confess that I’ve found myself pretty deeply frustrated.
    It’s hard to have planned something life-giving at such a hard time only to then turn and question whether it can proceed.
    It’s hard to already feel deep exhaustion and now wonder if we will be headed back into lockdown.
    It’s hard to be charitable to those around us, especially when so much of our politics at the moment is driven by our unwillingness to be charitable in the name of winning an imminent election.

    If you’re feeling a little dragged down today, I get it. But I want to offer a couple of pieces of encouragement.

First, the restrictions that are now in place as a part of the most recent public health order do not supersede the specific instructions given to houses of worship for our weekly services. I am currently seeking more clear advice on other meetings. Even now we can still gather to worship, which is a blessing in itself. There may come weeks ahead where we are asked to further limit services or be restricted to an online service, but it isn’t this week. I’m deeply thankful for that.

Second, the Psalm for today is very brief, but forceful plea for rescue. If you’re feeling worn out or on your heels, spend some time with this today. Read it more than once, or several times throughout the day. Give whatever you are dealing with over to God, and remember that God is indeed our Refuge and Rescue.

Please join me this week in praying for:

• An end to this Pandemic
• Patience and grace as we all deal with the changes and chances it brings
• The students in our community
• The parents of those students
• Those who feel lonely or afraid right now
• Those we know who are dealing with any sort of illness in a complicated moment for medical services and patients
• Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals and first responders as they work for our common good.
• The two men standing for election to the office of President of the United States
• All those in positions of public trust at the federal, state, and local level
• Moments of peace and sabbath for God’s people, especially now.
• Each other (please email [email protected] if you would like to be added to our prayer list)

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall

Beloved of God,

    I first of all want you to be aware of an opportunity that is coming up at the end of this month (I can’t believe it’s October!). Haley is putting together an event that is a creative spin on our traditional trunk or treat for these strange times. I’m really excited about it, and I think the more of you who are willing to find ways to join in the fun, the better it will be. This could be a great chance for us to love on our own children here at church and to share that same love with other kids in the community. We’ll have more to say soon, but for now, if you want to join us in building up our candy stockpile, feel free to bring a bag of pre-wrapped candy on Sunday or through the week as you’re able. It’s gonna be a blast.
    I have been reminded this week of how much everything we do well as a church runs on the mutual commitment to give our time and efforts and focus to one another in love. There is of course the truism that “money can’t buy love, and love can’t buy groceries.” But just as important as the funding we jointly hold to keep the lights on is the willingness to do careful, creative and even surprising things for one another and for our neighbors. Jesus threw dinner parties for strangers in desert places. He met with doubt riddled outsiders by night to bring them into the kingdom. He spent time with children in an age where most folks thought of their progeny as little better than property. I get the privilege as your pastor of hearing what many of you are up to: stories about outdoor dinner dates, and grocery runs, and even the odd repair of a sewing machine. I hope you will continue to listen to the Spirit as you are called to these unconventional and creative acts of love for one another and for our neighbors. God bless you as you do.

    Please join me this week in praying for:

• Those fleeing and fighting wildfires in the West
  
• Wisdom for both of the candidates standing for election to the office of President of the United States
• Our youngest brothers and sisters and neighbors
  
• Our oldest brothers and sisters and neighbors
• For parents as they care for their young children
• For children as they look after their older parents
• For doctors, nurses, first responders and others who are working for our good in healthcare settings
• For those in positions of public trust at the federal, state and local levels
• In praise for the change of seasons, and God’s constant care and provision for the world
• For those who are hurting, sick, afraid or alone
• That we would have eyes to see them and be willing to love and serve them for the sake of the Kingdom of God
• For one another (if you are interested in getting updates from the prayer ministry, please contact [email protected] to be added to that list)

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall