Dearly Beloved,
A quick note: Sunday morning's worship volume was really high, and I know it impacted people's worship experience. Our music minister Nicoletta, AV team and I are working together to address that to ensure it doesn't happen again. Thank you for communicating your concerns to our worship team and also for holding us in grace as we continue to work together to provide meaningful and accessible worship experiences each week.
This coming Sunday, we continue to follow our Epiphany theme around cultivating beloved community. Rev. Erin Gilmore preached about covenant, and what it means to be connected to one another and to God in covenant relationship. She also spoke eloquently of the necessity of showing up with love and tending life in the midst of the confusion and chaos in which we currently find ourselves. This past Sunday, I preached about humanity as part of our God given (and God-blessed!) nature. Learning, growing and mistakes are part of that God-given humanity, and we are called to embrace the whole of who we are as humans.
This Sunday, we'll delve into the importance of humility, curiosity, and respect in our relationships with one another. It can be easy to assume that we know what's best for others or what is right in a particular situation, but without listening deeply, without being open to others' experiences, we cannot really know what is happening for them or understand where they're coming from. In the apostle Paul's words: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."
Please plan to stay after worship on Sunday for our Annual Congregational Meeting. We'll be voting on the proposed budget for 2026 as well as the slate of nominated leaders and officers for 2026.
I will be at La Foret for a solo retreat Sunday evening through Tuesday, looking ahead at the coming year and working to plan our church calendar. I will be available in case of a pastoral emergency, so don't hesitate to call me in case of such a need.
I hope and pray that the week brings you hope, peace, and courage to navigate these troubling times. May the Spirit of Love that is God journey with you.
With peace and love,
Thandiwe
