“The Busy World Is Hushed”

For me, one of the most beautiful things in the world is watching snow fall. At night, I love to see it illumined by the streetlights. And I love to stand outside as it falls and experience the way it insulates you from the sounds of the world. I delight in the calm and quiet. I love the hush that falls on the world as it snows. And this hush brought to mind one of my favorite prayers, a funeral prayer. I do not know who wrote it, but it was written some time ago.

“O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.”

As I spent Saturday watching the snow fall, the busy (and crazy!) world was, for a few precious hours, hushed. It is difficult for many of us to find times when the world is hushed, when the fever that is our lives breaks for a moment, allowing calm to fill our hearts. Precious moments when we breathe a little easier. Moments we all desperately need. Whatever our world, whatever the fever of our lives, we need moments of hush.

Unfortunately, what always happens when weather or other things disrupt our lives is an almost immediate flurry of activity focused on getting back to the fever of our lives. The work of these times is never to sit in the hush, but to overcome it as quickly as possible. To get the roads cleared and everything back to normal so we can get busy again, running ourselves ragged.

Why do we fear such disruption? I understand there are those who suffer when disruption happens; those in need of life-giving or life-saving services. But for those of us who do not require these needs, why is our first impulse always to move past the hush? To conquer it. Salt the driveway and sidewalk, ready the shovels, cover the cars, make sure you have done everything you can to get back to the fever of life. The fever of life we love to complain about!

This impulse to get over the hush is nothing new for humans. This is why God did not suggest, but commanded Sabbath rest. God knows we need the hush of Sabbath. We need the quiet, even if it makes us uncomfortable. We need to sit in the hush. We need to be reminded over and over again that what we do, what we produce, what we accomplish, the lists we conquer, the calendars we fill do not give our lives their meaning. We are made in God’s image, created, each one, with a love deeper than we could ever possibly fathom. And our purpose is the same as the nature of our creator, to love.

God offers us rest. God commands it. God does not want us to wait until our deaths to find quiet, to experience life without fever. We need time to reorient ourselves toward love. This is important work that God commands us to take seriously. And we should not say, “when things calm down, when my life, when this world with all its chaos, suffering, and violence quiets down, then I will rest.” God calls us to lie down in green pastures now, so that we might remember who and whose we are and how deeply we are loved. And remembering, that we might share Christ’s love more generously, helping to hush the fever of other weary travelers desperately in need of rest for their souls. “Come to me,” our Savior says, “all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Amen.   

Grace and Peace,

Will

During 11:00 a.m. worship on January 11th, we welcomed and gave thanks for those being ordained and installed to the offices of Elder and Deacon.

Elders: Cal Cannon, Amy Couch, Heather Gordon, Carlton Greene, Maeve Hook, Fred Hyslop, and Thad McCord.

Deacons: Preston Burch, Virginia Alexander Cononie, Al Jenkins, Ann Drayton Lister, Karen Scott-Kubias, Kathy Vanderhoff, and Donna Ware.

Join Us for These Lenten Season Opportunities for Worship, Study, Reflection, and Fellowship

Beginning February 18th, this seven-week study led by Reverend Dottie Metropol will explore the book, Meeting Jesus on the Road, by Cynthia M. Campbell and Christine Coy Fohr. The authors invite us to journey alongside Christ through the Gospel stories that define his earthly path. Gathering a group of disciples around him, Jesus traveled the region teaching, healing, and proclaiming that the reign of God is at hand. Jesus calls us - like the first disciples - to follow, listen, question, and grow. Contact Lisa Johnson in the church office to register.

Joyful Noise Ringers will rehearse this Sunday, February 8, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. as a “One and Done.” We will play during 11:00 a.m. worship on February 15th. No experience is necessary and all ages are welcome! Please reach out to Lisa Dillard for more information. 

We have 12 ringers registered to attend the Lutheridge Handbell Conference in Arden, NC during the weekend of February 27-March 1. Every year we spend 3 days learning from top handbell conductors from around the country. We are grateful for the opportunity to enhance our worship at FPC and ask that you keep our ringers in your prayers. 

Children & Youth News

FPC Greer Financial Summary

Year to Date Actual Income

as of 12/31/2025 = $851, 305.00

Year to Date Budgeted Income

as of 12/31/2025 = $884,146.00

Variance = ($32,841.00)

Thank you for supporting the

mission and ministry of FPC Greer!

Mission and Outreach News

Thank you for all of the ways this congregation supports the Backpack Buddies Pantry. The need is ever greater and this important ministry of our congregation would not be possible without your help. 

Beginning this month, we will be providing weekend food for 89 students at Dunbar Child Development Center and Greer Middle. This adds up to 1056 items each week going out of the pantry.

We invite you to set up recurring donations through our Amazon wishlist that are shipped directly to the church.

Click HERE to shop the pantry wishlist.

You can also shop for items at the grocery store and bring them to the church. Needed items include applesauce and pudding cups, juice boxes, soups, small cans of vegetables, pasta entrees, breakfast items, and individual snacks.

Upcoming Fellowship Opportunities

Jackie Atkins

Sarah Cannon

Stuart Mauney

Tommy Williams

Our sincere sympathy to Karen Stoddard whose father, Ron Coker, passed away on January 9th. Ron was also the brother-in-law of Billie Coker. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, January 20th, in Greer.

Our deepest sympathy to Emily Huff whose father-in-law, Perry Huff, passed away in Greenwood, SC on January 14th at the age of 74 after a brief illness. A memorial service was held on Monday, January 19th in Greenwood.

Our love and sympathy to Jennifer Humphrey and family following the death of Jennifer’s mother, Susan Solomon, who passed away on January 30th in Greenville. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Tennessee.

Dear Friends,



Thank you so much for your kindness, prayers, and support during the loss of my father. Your thoughtful cards, phone calls, and messages meant more to me than I can express. Each note of sympathy and word of encouragement was a true comfort during this difficult time.

I am deeply grateful to be part of such a loving and caring church family, and I truly felt God’s love through each of you.

In Christ’s love,

Karen Stoddard

Click HERE to View the Latest Church Photos!

The next issue of First News is March 3. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to Lisa Johnson at lisaj@fpcgreer.org by Monday, March 2.