From the Bridge Pastor
I needed my umbrella this morning. Even though our deck is not completely stained, I’m not complaining about the rain! We definitely need it! The rain reminds me of a hymn I learned while growing up and attending First Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota entitled “We Plow the Fields and Scatter” The following is the first stanza and the refrain.
We plow the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand:
you send the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, Lord, we thank you, Lord
for all your love.
We certainly are dependent on God’s almighty and gracious hand to provide for us what we need. We give thanks to God, not only on the Day of Thanksgiving in November, but at all times.
It is also incumbent upon us to read the signs of climate change and connect the dots of global warming relating to what humans are doing to the earth including deforestation and pollution.
In the first story Creation in Genesis, God created humans on the sixth day to “have dominion” over the earth and its contents. “Dominion” is a kingdom word: the ruler of a nation was to “take care of” all who were living in the kingdom, including humans, plants, and animals. We are doing a terrible job at this! May God grant us each one of us the wisdom to do what we can to slow down the effects we are experiencing.
We are also called to take care of ourselves. Jane and I will be doing some traveling later this month and in October. More specific details will appear in upcoming editions of Straight to the Point.
As always, if you are someone you know would benefit from a pastoral visit, please call the office, and let Michael or me know.
In Christ,
Pastor Del
