Reflections from our Co-Pastors
October 19, 2020
Sunday’s Gospel, Matt 22: 16
Verse 16 from yesterday really caught me: “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth, and you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status.”
Jesus, our teacher and Christ, is truthful and teaches in accordance with God’s truth. Jesus lived the hero’s journey and led the way for us to live the same journey by following the path of God through this moment and this day that stares at us and frightens us.
It struck me that my cumulative anxiety over Covid19 along with other viruses, isolation, constant caution, and zoom; the election; social upheaval with threats from extremist groups, and killing of our black and brown sisters and brothers; unemployment and financial distress of families, young and old; not to mention our fires, can seem overwhelming. I’m speechless that we are even breathing. So, let’s take a breath – or two, or three, or four together.
And here is Jesus our Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, Life Itself, leading us through it all, surrounding us and permeating us. Is the hero’s journey being offered to me today, now? If ‘yes,’ we can re-frame our anxiety to see it as the opportunity to
|
|
experience, to know, and to love God more deeply so that we are changed, transformed. This is our Christian hope, to be transformed into the heart and mind of Christ.
I urge you to grab hold of any moment that distresses you in all its difficulty and in all your weariness. There is opportunity here to step into that anxiety and stay with it until it melts, then we can than take a step forward. We recall that God’s way requires patience and trust. Can this be the freedom that will lead us to “the way of God in accordance with the truth…”
Today is a new day to accept God’s presence in today’s challenge, to face our fears and to savor our joys, to have patience and trust, to go deeper, to grow in knowledge of self, to continue to uncover our own truth.
God is love. God is faithful. God is here. Jesus our Christ is here. ‘Jesus, are you here? Yes, (add your name), I am here.’
|
|
|
Schedule - Sunday Services
Oct 11 - Deacon Rosean; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM
Oct 18 - Father Michael; 5:00 p.m. via ZOOM
Oct 25 - Faith Partners (3-Church) Service at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom
Nov 1st - Father Teri at 11:00 a.m. with a virtual event following. (More information on Wednesday)
|
|
Prayer Requests and Service Links
|
|
For Mike - son of Ann Russell, who had to evacuate due to the fires. For Lauren Roob entering into new cancer treatment- friend of Rosanna Bateman.
Healing prayers for Dianna Padilla, sister of Lisa Jones, who underwent surgery for cancer. For Liz and Ken Zornes and family, friends of Sandra and Dick Life, whose daughter is struggling with addiction.
For Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe. For Dona Bosse - community member and Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother. For Dani - Niece of the Cloyds and Mary Crosby –
|
|
parishioner and Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. For Dani - Niece of the Cloyds and Mary Crosby – parishioner. For Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones and Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. And Leo Six – father of Michael Six, Mike Gudim, Margie Weitz, Suzanne King, Robert Browell.
______________
For peaceful repose for the souls of those who've passed and comfort for the families.
For Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones.
Bob - Husband of Joyce Dehaven,
friend of Cathy Engel
David Heyman - member
Teri Kent - member
Pat DeMuth -sister of Jim DeMuth, member
Bill McClellan - Father of Jennifer Pfeister, member
Father of Julie Shoenbauer, member
Edwin White - brother in law of Pastor Jane
Bill, Greg, and Calvin -
friends of Deacon Rosean
And for Ted Boltz and comfort for Fr. Frank Quintana and family - an ECC Pastor of St. Oscar Romero, ECC in Albuquerque.
|
|
Our Service Recordings and More
|
|
For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection
|
|
|
|
|
|
|