Psalm 8 is a passage that helps us refocus our attention on God’s greatness. The Psalmist begins by praising God and acknowledging God’s greatness and splendor of creation. But the Psalmist also introduces the amazing fact that we, who are such a small part of this universal, have nevertheless been given responsibility for all other created things. Should not this be sufficient for us to marvel at the wisdom and order found within and among created things, such as us? Is our use of the created things respectful of God’s wisdom and order?  

Let us read the Psalm! How does it speak to us? Are we searching for words to praise God? Or are we listening to the praise that rises to God from the goodness of all that God created? In the course of the moment that we are reading this Psalm, in the course of this day, and the course of this New Year, we pray that each of us will offer God not only petitions but also praise because God has brought us a mighty long way. God is capable of taking us through another year, and we are counting on that. However, we must participate in and hold up our share of responsibility as those responsible for all other created things, including ourselves.

Being responsible for ourselves is more than spiritual responsibility; it encompasses and demands moral leadership that must be embodied and employed in our daily lives. The duplicity or the duplicitous proclamation of modesty is often challenged when we pretend to be who we are not. These behaviors lead to a deeper divide when we do not listen to each other. People are watching us, just as the world watched our nation yesterday. As we read this article, please note that since yesterday, we have been traumatized by what we witnessed on national TV because of our history of civil conflict, but the journey must continue in faith. 

We call on everyone to join the Psalmist and let this Psalm be our Chorus of Praise as we lift our voices to God to save the land and grant us peace. Let us contemplate the majesty of God, realizing that it is higher than heaven. Let us realize that God has a strong foundation. When we look up at the skies, at what God’s fingers made—the moon and the stars that God set firmly in place—what are human beings that God thinks about us; what are human beings that God pays attention to us? God has made us only slightly less than divine, crowning us with glory and grandeur. We are allowed to rule over God’s handiwork, putting everything under our feet— And that is why the Psalmist says Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!

We pray that each of us will continue to be a beacon of light in the dark moments of humanity. We want each of you to know how appreciative we are of your tenacity. Continue the good work of faith which begun in Christ Jesus. Better days are ahead, let us not be dismayed. Let each of our lives reflect a Chorus of Praise. 

We will begin by sharing various resources including videos, book and movie suggestions, websites, and other resources during early January. We are partnering with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) and their “Day for All People 2021 Advocacy Week” for a week of workshops, services opportunities, prayer vigils, and so much more! Join us on Monday morning, Martin Luther King Day, for time with the Virginia United Methodist Conference Bishop Sharma Lewis as the Guest Speaker, and then spend part of the afternoon in service. Tuesday through Thursday will include workshops, meeting with your State Senators and Delegates, and more. Tuesday will feature Governor Northam as the Guest Speaker. Friday, January 22, is United Methodist Day at the General Assembly.  We are planning opportunities for sharing and reflection, an opportunity to take part in a Prayer Vigil (both in person and virtual opportunities), and more. 

To streamline registration and make sure you have access to all the resources and opportunities, please register at: www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/get-involved/2021dfap/

On April 6^th, Pastor Don Williams dedicated the Pantry and we began the process of helping our neighbors supplement their emergency food needs. The Pantry was empty almost every day and we soon worried that we would not be able to keep up with the demand. A donation bin was placed on the church porch and needs were posted on Facebook. Just when we felt we might be overwhelmed; the donation bin would be overflowing with food. With the church no longer being used for worship services, we converted our Narthex to storage for pantry supplies. Church members stepped up to provide volunteers who fill the pantry 7 days a week. In June, the Community Garden began contributing free produce in the Little Free Veggie Wagon. Produce from many of our garden plots was harvested twice a week and offered to the community for free.

If you would like more information on establishing a Little Free Pantry, please feel free to contact me at jpmbw1@gmail.com.

Our friend and brother Larry Burian claimed the promise of the Resurrection on December 23, 2020, He will be greatly missed. Larry was very active in the Virginia Conference. He was the editor of the Sunday Advocate. He was extremely active in the United Methodist Men (UMM) having served in a number of positions - one of which was president. Under his leadership, the UMM grew and lives were touched. Larry was the editor of the Virginia UMM Beacon newsletter for a number of years. Larry was also the promoter and driving force behind Wesleyan Building Brothers. In addition to serving the Virginia conference in a number of ways, he served as a delegate to General Conference three times. 

The General Commission of United Methodist Men and the YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee developed the AMEND Together Program to address this issue. Men come meet and participate in a training event sponsored by the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church and Rappahannock River District UMM that will present the AMEND Together training.

·      Raise awareness about the prevalence of violence against women

·      Uncover subtle ways our society reinforces sexism and objectification

·      Connect the dots between harmful jokes and violent acts

·      Unpack the difference between healthy and unhealthy masculinity

·      Empower attendees with situational examples and strategies to step up and speak out against negative cultural norms

·      Challenge attendees to help create a community that respects and values women and girls

For more info see: https://youtu.be/KskVFJktm0g

The training will consist of eight Zoom Meetings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm beginning January 5, 2021.

To register for this important initiative contact Bob Pickett at Email: bob.pickett1@verizon.net or Phone: 540-834-3068. He will provide info for obtaining the participants book and Zoom participation information.