Newsletter Thoughts April 12th, 2025

Dear Friends,

We have made it to Palm Sunday. We are continuing our Lenten theme: life in the extremes. So far, we’ve explored: intention & action; stranger & neighbor; faith & works; rest & growth; lost & found; and righteousness & mercy. This week we explore the words shouting & silence. 

These words, shouting & silence, immediately invoke images for me. Shouting. This brings to mind the loud cacophony of people gathered and yelling at a sporting event. Most everyone is yelling and whether they are happy or sad depends on what is happening for their team. Maybe this is a good analogy for Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. We celebrate those who were happy to greet him, but not everyone was happy. Days later the shouts turned from greeting to “crucify him!” What a turn.

Silence. A favorite activity of mine is to go out into the hills. At first, when sounds of civilization recede and then disappear, the silence is refreshing. But, if you are in nature long enough, and are still, you will hear new things. Animals and insects and water and wind. Beautiful refreshing sounds.

Sometimes silence is not refreshing though. I think of loss and mourning. People don’t know what to say, so they say nothing, and you feel so alone. Sometimes presence without words is the best way to say, “I’m here and I care for you.”

And then, I am reminded of Easter morning. The women up early, walking while the world sleeps. That’s its own special kind of silence. A silence that was only interrupted by the question, “who will roll away the stone for us?” It’s in the silence that we often receive answers to that question.

Blessings to you this Holy Week.

An update on our vision and mission:

The church council adopted these statements, and we will begin using the mission in worship on Easter.

Propose vision (who we believe God is calling us to be):

We are called to be a nurturing community practicing acceptance, hope, love, and service.

Proposed mission (how God is calling us to do ministry):

We follow Jesus’ actions to be a shepherding force by accepting, embracing, and nurturing all of creation.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Nancy