Dear friends,
Earlier this week, I met with the members of my Pastor Support Team – a group of church members
who convene quarterly to talk and pray together. It’s a gift to sit with these individuals. The practice of
reflecting, sharing challenges, and giving thanks is life-giving. In addition to the goodness of that hour
we spend together, I know they continue praying for my ministry, my well-being, and my family in the
time between our meetings.
This week, just as we were closing up, I accidentally started preaching. It’s an occupational hazard;
preachers gonna preach. The remarkable, Spirit-led nature of worship at First Congregational UCC
came up. And I had something to say about that. I love worship at our church. We worship with joy. A
sense of humor. Radical inclusivity. We name our fears. We pour out our lamentations. We are
reminded that we are called to be people of hope. Called to be followers of Jesus. And sent back into
the broken, desolate, yet beloved world to share God’s love.
Friends, the world is extraordinarily broken and desolate. Each week it seems there is another reason
to weep. Another reason to be taken aback. Another reason to gasp in disbelief – or worse, gape in
numb despondency. War and famine, injustice and falsehood, hatred and discord. Escalating political
violence – it’s too much. I want to scream and cry – and sometimes I do.
I want to recite Psalm 46 until
I’m hoarse – and sometimes I do.
“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”
What I said to the Pastor Support Team was something like this: if we gathered on Sunday mornings
for a happy clappy time that just ignored the state of the world, I wouldn’t really want to be there. It
wouldn’t mean much. And I doubt it would draw many people to the pews or the livestream. We might
as well be watching the latest oddball Netflix documentary.
When we gather to worship on Sunday, and afterwards, to cut the sheet cake for our church’s 175th
birthday, we’re not fiddling while Rome burns. We’re not squeezing our eyes shut and pressing our
hands over our ears. We’re bearing witness to the truth that the news cycle is not the only reality.
Trials and tribulations are not all there is. We’re bearing witness to a God who cares deeply about the
suffering of all people – a crucified Christ who knows our pain. And we’re bearing witness to the
promise that this God is still speaking, still acting, and still sending us out to be the church.
Thanks be to God for the gift of this hope, this refuge, this calling. Thanks be to God for this church.
In Christ,
Pastor Katherine
