Do you remember the beginning of this pandemic period? Do you remember the things that worried you at that time? Was not having enough toilet paper one of them?

As the months have gone on—and as we still have no idea when the quarantine period is going to end—I think our concerns have shifted. I think a lot of us have moved away from worrying about things, and we’re starting to realize how much we miss certain people and interactions or relationships. 

This month, as we have been talking about stewardship at SVPC, we’ve emphasized a theme of “Trusting God in the Wilderness.” I know that so many of you have already been living out a deep trust in God during these difficult times, and that your trust has been made real in your generosity to the church’s ministries. We’re going to continue to reflect on the importance of a trusting, intimate relationship with God to get us through hard times this Sunday; and we’re going to do this by reflecting on a story where we see that closeness to God isn’t exactly the same as getting what you want from life.

With hope, 

Hardy

Join us immediately following worship this Sunday for Coffee Hour

After the service is over, log on to our Zoom coffee time at:

This Sunday's Opening Words are the poem “To Change the World Enough” by Alice Walker.

“Close, intimate communion is inherently perilous, however. The more we learn about others, the greater our knowledge of their potential vulnerabilities—and their knowledge of ours. The closer we get, the more likely we are to hurt one another….”

—Audrey West, Professor of New Testament at Moravian Seminary

Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”