The new slate of elected officers met for the first time on January 18, 2020. While the make up around the table looks a bit different, the work remains the same for the health and wellbeing of First Christian Church. We give thanks for the blessing of those who have gone before us to get us where we are, and we ask God’s blessing as we move into the future in hope.
In a recent time of study in preparation for a sermon I came across a sermon preached by Carla Pratt Keyes in a posting on A Sermon for Every Sunday. Pratt Keyes reminds us of Henri Nouwen’s distinction between optimism and hope. “Nouwen says they are radically different attitudes. ‘Optimism is the expectation that things – the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation, and so on – will get better. [Grandma’s beatitudes were OPTIMISTIC; you could act in a good way and expect good things would happen. HOPE, according to Nouwen] is the trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.’”
In hope, we pray for the continued blessings upon FCC, its leaders, and all of us who make up the body of Christ in the world. We hold the Search Committee in our prayers as they continue the work of discernment to lead the congregation in the future. We hold all of the Committees that work hard at the day-to-day activities that enrich our lives and our spirits. I hold you in my prayers as well, and ask that you remember to include me in yours. That’s community. Yes, “hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.”
Blessings,
Donna
