“For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:24-25
Dear Deacons and Pastors:
“For who hopes for what is seen?” I am finding comfort in these words from Paul to the Romans these days. I cannot see an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, I cannot see an end to our systemic structures of racism and white supremacy, and I cannot see an end to the painful separateness I feel from friends, family, and the congregation I serve. With no end in sight, is exactly when we as Christ followers are invited by Paul to have hope. Offering hope for that which we cannot see but believe, the Spirit is planting seeds in our midst: seeds of the importance of mask wearing, seeds of deep and intentional anti-racism work, and seeds of creative ways to build community and relationships.
|
|
Planting seeds is an act of hope for that which we cannot see. In our lectionary, we are in the throes of agricultural parables in Matthew's Gospel. Seeds sown on all types of soil and lack thereof, wheat and weeds growing together, and mustard seed faith. I follow Even Pull Farm in Oregon on Instagram and they recently posted a picture of ordinary seed packets with this caption:
Seeding winter crops always feels like an act of faith. We seed crops in the month of July that we will be harvesting starting in October and extending all the way through May. That’s ten months from now. The world today is already wildly different than it was just three months ago. This year, seeding food for winter feels even more poignant than normal. We will grow this food to feed and nourish us in the darkest months of the year—come pandemic, protest, elections, cold weather, rain, pests, and whatever other craziness the universe has in store for us. We seed and plant and tend in good faith, knowing that people will need food, and that because we know how to grow it we should do so.
Siblings in Christ, keep planting whatever seeds you know how to plant and tending in good faith however you tend in the world. Even though we cannot see what is to come, we have hope in Christ Jesus, and in hope we are saved.
Faithfully,
Pastor Athena Thomasson-Bless
Social Justice & Advocacy Coordinator
|
|
Knowing that God is calling us to walk alongside one another, here are opportunities for walking together as the NC Synod this coming week:
- Wednesday, July 15 @ 11 a.m. Rostered Ministers' Zoom call: Join the bishop's staff for an open office hour. Bring your questions and concerns! CLICK THIS Zoom link to join. [Meeting ID: 945 8923 7157 Password: none Join by phone: +1 646 876 9923]
- Wednesday, July 15 @ 8 p.m. Rostered Ministers' Happy Hour: You're invited to join the bishop's staff for our first Rostered Ministers' Happy Hour. Bring your favorite beverage, whatever cheer you can muster, and let's toast to surviving the coronavirus this long! Partners are welcome to join too (unless you need a break from them, then it is just a work call 😊)! CLICK THIS Zoom link to join. [Meeting ID: 917 9179 7067 Password: none Join by phone: +1 646 876 9923]
- Thursday, July 16, @ 11 a.m. Navigating caregiving and your call: The bishop's staff will host a conversation for parents and caregivers trying to navigate the very challenging reality of school schedules, immuno-compromised family members, and your call. We will share how you might begin conversation if you are sensing the need to adapt your call hours, the polity of these conversations, impact on benefits, whether the change can be permanent or temporary, vacation time, and more. Have a copy of your personnel policy handy to reference as we talk. Also, we will talk about ways you might begin or continue conversations with your leaders about flexible work hours that honor both your vocational calls to caregiving and pastoring. CLICK THIS Zoom link to join. [Meeting ID: 965 8923 5188 Password: none Join by phone: +1 646 876 9923]
- Summer worship for July and August: A full, recorded worship service from an NC Synod congregation will be available by Sunday morning on the synod's Facebook page, from the synod's COVID-19 response page, and by calling the synod's worship phone line: 833-924-1988. This Sunday, July 19, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, worship will be shared by Mt. Pisgah, Hickory.
- Additionally, the synod staff will continue to provide a sermon video clip for each Sunday in July and August that can be inserted in your worship service. These sermons will be available on Wednesdays by noon via the shared Google folder.
|
|
Our family spent a relaxing four nights at the Faith Center at Kure Beach last month reconnecting with one another and creation. It seems strange to say that seeing as though we've spent most all of the last four months together, but instead of our attention being a million different places, we could just be and enjoy. With no WiFi and a big sandbox in front of us, we played, laughed, and sunscreened our days away all while feeling extremely safe as, at the time, the only ones at the Center. We packed easy breakfast and lunch fixings that we stored in the kitchen and picked up carry out each evening for a break from all that has been routine. Our kids can't wait to go back for the change of scenery and fun. We can't wait to go back to wake up every morning to the salt air breeze and take the few steps to the sand. We're all hopeful in our own ways for a few days of just being and enjoying again soon. —Pastors Lisa and Michael Beery (Community in Christ, Huntersville)
|
|
|
Questions? Contact the synod office 704-633-4861.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
