Almost every Wednesday I sit at my desk and ask myself, “What is a word I can share with my congregation this week?” In all honesty, this is one of the most challenging parts of my work right now. What is there to say that might bring hope and faith and connection, when we are all feeling isolated and frustrated and tired? Except for a few extreme introverts, this has been hard.   

After procrastinating for a good 24 hours, I’m still feeling a bit clueless about what I might say this week. This is probably not the first sign that I need a vacation. Although it may not write my next Weekly Update, it does remind me of God’s encouragement of rest.  Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” 

Lately, many of us have been carrying a heavier load than usual. This burden comes in many forms: physical, mental, and spiritual burdens. Whatever burden you are carrying around right now, I hope that you will find rest in our Lord. Give yourself permission to take a break from the craziness and find rest. This might be a walk by the water, nap in a hammock, conversation with your best friend or devotional reading. Whatever it is, do not forget to care for yourself and connect to the One who gives us rest. For when we find rest, we are strengthened for the work ahead.      

So with this in mind, I’ll be taking off next week. I’ll be spending some time in the woods with hopes of being renewed by creation. So what might you do to find rest in God this next week? Maybe it’s just a few hours, but I hope you find some time to rest too.  

God’s Peace,

Pastor Dawn

For many of us, August marks a time of transition from summer vacations and family reunions to buying school supplies and getting ready for another year. This is still a reality to a certain extent, but if you are anything like me, it just feels a little different this year. I am not experiencing the excitement of new backpacks and unopened boxes of crayons. And I’ll be honest, I haven’t even thought about school shopping yet. 

We all know our lives continue to look different in this time of COVID-19. And sometimes that leaves us feeling a bit MEH. We have not lived through a time like this ever before. But that makes me wonder, in these different times, how do we, as the church, give opportunities for renewal and new life? Or more directly, what do you need right now? What would give you life? What would connect you to the One who is life and love and hope? 

On Monday, August 3 we will be holding All Ministry Night on Zoom. This will look a bit different than usual as I hope to dig into some of these questions as we think about our way forward as the church. I do not want the church to be a place that fills your calendar more than it fills your cup. So join me as we think about these questions and help me to think about ways we might bring new life to our community.

Join me on Monday, August 3 at 6:30 on Zoom.

God’s Peace & Blessings,

Pastor Dawn

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