Hinneh Ma Tov!

Hinneh ma tov! That’s the Hebrew phrase opening Psalm 133, and it means, “Behold, how good!” And what is good, according to this Psalm? When brothers and sisters, when the household of God gather, dwell, live, and experience community together as one body. In so many ways, I believe, this is exactly what we mean when we talk about the work of the Holy Spirit, uniting the body of Christ in a spirit of unity and peace under Jesus’ lordship.

This is what we were made for, and the Psalmist goes so far as to compare it with the anointing of Aaron as he prepares himself to serve before the Lord on behalf of the people. The Psalmist also compares it to the beauty of creation, and the cycle of renewal and life. If you’ve ever seen Mt. Hermon, you know its snow-capped peaks, in season, melt away and provide the moisture that eventually waters the fertile fields and streams of northeastern Israel and southeastern Lebanon, a land where God called and brought a people upon whom he has set his name.

In short, when we live life together well, in unity, peace, love, justice, and harmony, it is as holy as the most precise and poetic act of worship we can imagine, and as restful and life-giving as the cooling mountain rains. We were made for each other, and with one another, we were made to commune and fellowship with God. Hinneh ma tov, indeed!

I think this is what we have all desperately missed over the past year. Beyond all considerations of masks and distancing, this is what we have been mourning, and all the other rigmarole has been a way for us to conceal our real problem. We miss that for which we have been made.

The good news, I hope, is that as conditions improve, the way will be made for us to increasingly resume life together. Pray for this outcome, please. We are gathering, and I hope in the coming weeks and months, we will build and expand on this. There’s a lot of work to be done, and I, for one, miss seeing so many of you. I am looking forward to the rejoicing that is to come in the Lord.

In Christ,

Pastor Sam

Please join our community online for a virtual prayer meeting this Friday! Bring your heart, your burdens, and your faith as we draw near to God in prayer.

Topic: FPC Community Prayer

Time: February 12, 7:00 p.m.

Join Zoom meeting here.

Meeting ID: 826 4875 1043

One-tap mobile:

+13017158592,,82648751043# US (Washington D.C)

+13126266799,,82648751043# US (Chicago)

9:00: In person: 66;

11:00: In person: 23;

We are asking all members of our congregation to join our 7-12-7 Prayer Campaign. Please choose the time convenient for you (7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., or 7:00 p.m.) and join us daily in prayer. Together we will ask for God’s guidance, deliverance, and mercy for our church, community, nation, and world. If you cannot pray at those hours, please pray when you can! We are facing great challenges, but God is greater still.

Deadline for contributions to Windows is the Monday of the week of publication. To subscribe to our free e-newsletter, send your name and preferred email address to [email protected].