Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me. Psalm 23:4

…..weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

The Psalms offer much hope in the midst of calamity and chaos. Every morning I have started a routine of listening to the news for about 30 minutes. I say to my smartphone, “Good Morning Google” and it quickly gives me all the information regarding time, weather and other pertinent information. It then gives the days news, along with other interest stories. About a month ago I heard an encouraging message from a Rabbi. The interviewer asked him for words of inspiration during this pandemic season, and he went directly to the 23rd Psalm where he talked about “walking through the valley.” As bad as things may seem to be, we are walking through, which means that we will get past these times to the other side.

The Rabbi continued to direct the scripture and mentioned  the presence of shadows. “If  there are shadows, he exclaimed, “then there is light somewhere.” These words were an encouragement to me and reminded me that we are the light of the world. In the midst of darkness we have an opportunity to be light. During this Advent season, we remember the light and how it guides our path.

“Walk in the light, beautiful light;

Come where His love and His mercy are bright.

Shine all around us by day and by night,

Jesus, the Light of the world.”

James Calhoun

Gracious God, we thank you for leading us through the trials of life to places full of love and light. We thank you that after the darkness, dawn is soon to follow with its joy. Amen

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:11

While this Thanksgiving will be different and smaller this year, I have so many things to be thankful for. One of the biggest things is all of you, my church family.  I am always amazed at how you all step up to the plate when asked to serve in ministry.  It is such a blessing to work with all of you here at CUMC.  I just stamped over 100 thank you cards for health care workers that were collected and delivered to Orange Coast Memorial Hospital.  We will do this again for another local hospital soon.  There were all types of cards from beautiful hand painted ones, computer printed ones, and store bought.  All of them had heartfelt messages of gratitude and thanks for those people who work so tirelessly to help others get well.  It warmed my heart to see all of them.  These cards will let them know that their work does not go unnoticed and hopefully will get their Thanksgiving week off to a great start.

So many of you have donated to help others have a Thanksgiving dinner through our Food Closet.  It has been amazing to see the amount of canned goods, turkeys, pies, etc. that have been given out to those families in need.  When we put out a call for TP because our Food Closet was very short on supply we were beyond fully stocked up in days. How wonderful is that?  We have sifters for people who have lost their homes due to fire that were built by our EngageHB worship and will be finished off by our youth.  Those sifters will help start the process of healing after dealing with such devastation.

Shortly, my office will be filled with gifts for children, youth and senior adults who might not have a Christmas gift if it was not for Social Services whom we collect for.  Even while living in uncertain times, you all show your love of people whom you do not know by your actions and that is why I am so thankful to be a part of this church family.  We are still living out our faith in deeds, not just words.  We are living out what our church is called to do by reaching out to others and helping them. Even while we cannot worship inside our beautiful new sanctuary, we worship God by our deeds by helping others in need. Letting them know that they are a beloved child of God and that they matter to us and to God. They are important.

As we gather around our table, computer, separate tables outside, or however you are gathering this year, may we remember to be thankful to God for our continued blessings, even during this difficult time. We are blessed. We are blessed to have people in our lives to care about and to love and nurture, let us not forget that and let us not forget to tell them that they are a beloved child of God and that they matter to us and to God.  So, reach out in word and deed to let God know and let the ones closest to you know that you are thankful for them.  That you are blessed to have them in your lives even when they drive you crazy sometimes.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Gracious and loving God, Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow, and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, for health, and for grace. May we live this and every day conscious of all that has been given to us.
—From The Catholic Prayer Book, compiled by Msgr. Michael Buckley

Stay well, stay safe and be the hope you wish to see in the world,
Suzanne