From the Pastor

 Sunday Reflection upon Psalm 8

Psalm 8 tells us that we have been entrusted with the weighty responsibility of stewardship over creation. This concept vastly differs from ancient Near Eastern myths in which the gods created humans to be enslaved and feed the gods. This concept was not the case with the ancient Israelite understanding: Humans have a dignity granted to us by God, but lest we get to think more highly of ourselves, Psalm 8 reminds us that we are stewards, not owners, of God’s creation. This responsibility is not taken lightly but embraced with a deep sense of accountability and commitment.  May we be responsible and wise in managing God’s creation.

Sunday Reflection upon James 5:13-20

We yearn for the day when all will be healed and restored, but until then, we live in the brokenness of our biological existence that brings pain and growth, death and decay. We also live in a brokenness that requires the confession of our sins because of the way we often treat one another. Our prayers for healing and confession are not futile but potent and efficacious, offering us hope and reassurance. There are various ways to confess our sins: Privately with a priest or minister, with each other, and publicly in a corporate worship situation as we do each Sunday.

The confession of sin is the first step toward reconciliation. May confessing our sin lead to repentance with the ultimate hope of reconciliation. Our prayers for healing and confession are powerful and effective. As a Christian community, we are responsible for fostering an environment of forgiveness, understanding, and reconciliation where all members feel safe and supported in their faith journey.