In a 24 hour period at St. Paul’s, a recovery group shared stories of healing and offered each other strength. Burritos were prepped and sent out into the community. Bikes were worked on and new volunteers were recruited. Student art was proudly displayed and showed off in the Family Support Center. The youngest among us were cared for during pre-school at Pixie Village and voices were raised together in sacred song with the Lutheran Chorale.
Our buildings were literally bursting with joy and promise, community and support. Blessings overflowing! Right out of our buildings and into the world.
BUT WAIT! There’s more!
We also welcomed the al-Hafyan family to Buffalo! They arrived at the airport late Tuesday night. Our refugee resettlement team and others used their blessings of time to help clean and set up the Kahle House. Other team members used their blessings to grocery shop and order a Syrian meal. And you all answered the call to bless the family and house with furniture and groceries.
In the wait for the al-Hafyan family to arrive, we wondered if we’d done enough. If we had the right things in the house or the right supports in place. But God’s blessings overflow!
We discovered at the airport that the al-Hafyan family was greeted not only by St. Paul’s, and their caseworker, but by extended FAMILY! The family’s parents and siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins were all there. Grandma met a grandchild for the first time in the arrival area. Brothers too long separated embraced. After being separated for over 9 years a family was reunited. (Mostly. There are still some siblings in Jordan)
Suddenly what felt like too little felt like abundance. A house once empty is now overflowing with laughter and a family ready to begin life here in the United States. Overflowing joy and promise. Overflowing community and support.
May we experience God’s blessings of joy and promise, community and support in our own lives. May it fill us up to overflowing so that it can burst out from us and into the world.
ps from ps What an interesting couple hours. Spent some time today walking around the St. Paul’s Eggertsville Campus neighborhood dropping off bags for the Tiger’s Den Food Pantry Thanksgiving drive. Had some great conversations with new and old neighbors and some St. Paul’s missionaries as well.
Noticed the changing leaves left in the trees and down on the ground on a beautiful fall WNY day. Something else stood out to me though as I went from porch to porch. It didn’t matter weather the house was a ranch or a colonial, had a Bills flag or not, large house and small one….there was one consistency.
Amazon packages.
I would guess that at least every other house had an Amazon package on the porch or in the door. Maybe your neighborhood or porch is the same way.
Made me acutely aware of how much shopping has changed for so many.
So has church I guess. As many churches struggle with engagement of their community and church attendance, like many “mom and pop” local stores, they are closing. And yet at the same time, there is a rise in digital engagement, online worship experiences, spiritually focused social media posts and podcasts over live sermons.
There is no right or wrong. There is just change.
Yesterday, a friend shared with me the official sale of his family’s business, the Amherst Bee. The in-print news business is shifting and changing as well.
If you let yourself consider all of it, the changes could overwhelm you. That is, if you forget the constant force, presence and grace of God throughout it all.
That hasn’t changed. That won’t change.
I wonder if Jesus would order sandals through Amazon? I wonder if he’d read the Buffalo News on the digital version?
Not sure. And not sure what other changes are coming next.
But today, in and amongst all the changes, I loved remembering the constant Force that warmed my face with the chilly breeze on a nice walk around the neighborhood. God’s presence.
ps from ps/pk Now that we are through the election, we realize that there are a range of emotions and reactions out there, ranging from celebrations to layers of grief. No matter where you at with the results our calling as children of God at St. Paul’s hasn’t changed one bit. We are still called to reach beyond ourselves and empower people with the good news of Jesus Christ!
We offer today some reflections from Bishop Tim Smith of the NC Synod who shared this: “Democracy (or, okay, Republic) holds as its highest good the will of the people, based on the old Greek and later Enlightenment principle that divinity, good, resides ultimately in people through a divine spark. Our life’s calling in that system is to fan that spark into a flame. Lutheranism, no matter how you slice it, has a much lower view of humanity, insisting that “we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.” Therefore, our only hope is in the Christ who claims and loves us nevertheless and frees us to serve our neighbor, especially those on the margins. That is to say, our hope resides not in the will of the masses, but in the way of Christ. Entirely counter-cultural. That was true yesterday, and true today. Our calling is the same. Regardless of election results, people of faith, and Lutherans in particular, stay the course. Strive to follow Christ. Carry on.”
We invite you to be good to yourself today, be gentle with others who may be hurting, be watchful for those around you in need, be active in sharing the blessings you have and be ready to carry on as the church that God needs us to be as we strive to follow Christ together.
Lord, thank you for loving all of us. Continue to call us into the world to be your church and follow your lead. Amen
Six high school students affirmed their faith through the Rite of Confirmation this past Sunday. It was incredible! They each shared a favorite scripture verse and then shared with the congregation moments in their lives that taught them about being a follower of Christ. They shared stories of joy, but also of pain. They shared with honesty the times when they felt alone or were full of doubt and yet they confirmed their faith anyways. Then most beautifully of all, they shared the hope that God will get them through the hard times and that they will be able to shout for joy again.
These are the scripture verses our students chose. I invite you to read them and consider what they mean for you.
Elias Rodriguez: Joshua 1:9 “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Ella Winkler: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous; do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.” Jillian Bland: Psalm 46:5 “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day.” Maggie Skinner: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Oliver Magin: Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Ryan Fortune: Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
May we all be filled with that hope this week.
Dear God, when we are in the midst of darkness and doubt, help us to feel you with us. When we feel alone or afraid, send people who will encourage and guide us. When we aren’t sure what the future holds, remind us that you have a plan. When faith feels far, spark hope within us. Amen.
ps from ps Our Monday Mantras have been focused in the 23rd Psalm. It’s a part of Scripture that many know by heart but when you slow it down and reflect, it takes on a whole new level of God’s promise. Take the journey through it today or throughout the week.
The Lord is my shepherd. – Where do you feel God watching over you?
I shall not be in want. – How blessed are you? Can you take time to name a few?
He leads me beside still waters. – Where are your still waters today?
He walks with me through the dark valleys. – What are those valleys for you and how do you sense God with you?
My cup overflows. – Where is your cup overflowing today?
Goodness and mercy shall follow me. – Can you name those aspects? Can you thank them?
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Is that house like your current house? If so, how? If not, can you adjust?
ps from ps Did you get a look at the Northern Lights last week? Did you make the time? And if you spent time doing that, did you take your phone and look through that lens? And if you tried to take a picture through that lens, did you remember to use the “long exposure” setting to get a better picture?
Making the time.
Remembering the lens.
Taking long exposure.
I’m talking about trying the see the Northern Lights. And I’m also not just talking about trying to see the Northern Lights.
Those three components were crucial last week for viewing a specular offering from God’s creation. But those three components will also be crucial as we live into lives of faith and discipleship.
Making the time – Are we giving ourselves some time and space to experience, dwell in, and realize God’s love for us? Are we setting our intentions on a daily basis to stop, change directions, turn around and pause to notice God’s love, grace and healing for us?
Remembering the lens – Once we Make the Time and sense that presence of God, do we allow ourselves to use that as a lens for living? Do we look through that lens of justice for all, grace for everyone, forgiveness for our sinful self and hope for a future filled with it? Can we use that lens to deal with our family, friends and neighbor in. a faith-filled way?
Taking Long Exposure – Will we slow down longer and let God’s love wash over us and change us? Can we create space in our days to just be with God, even for a few minutes to read these devotions (good job!) or dive into Scripture or walk in creation? Can we lengthen an hour in church community on Saturday or Sunday into time for service and sharing during the week?
Spectacular things happen in God’s creation often. Sometimes they are in the northern skies at night. And sometimes, they happen more often when we make the time, remember the lens and take longer exposure.
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