THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR LIZ DAVIS
June 2021
Blessings to you, People of United!
I’m so excited for summer. I’m hopeful it will be a shift in many things, but at the top of my list is my sense of our collective humanity.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we saw beautiful images of communities supporting each other. There were people playing music on their porches in lock-downed Italy. There were hearts and bears in neighborhood windows. There were outpourings of support for the heroes who continued to work in public-facing, healthcare, and other risky situations. Working from home, I got to see and chat with more of my neighbors than ever before. There were hard things about this time, but also many really beautiful glimpses of our care for each other.
And then… I think we all got burned out by the stressors of the pandemic. I felt it starting to hit in the fall, and it’s continued. Families were divided in their differing views and actions related to the virus. The election season got into full swing and continued on longer than I had expected. My campaign sign got taken from my front yard (by one of those neighbors I was just getting to know?). Everywhere seemed a lot less safe and friendly than it had before. Even churches were frayed by members’ differing expectations and demands. We’ve lost sight of our unity and interdependence. In doing so, we’ve lost sight of the gospel.
God created us for community! “You are the body of Christ: each one of you is a member in it!” (1Corinthians 12:27). In all of our differences, we belong together. We might even say that we belong to each other. To regain that sense of community, we need opportunities to rely on each other, to reaffirm our
relationships through deep listening, and to accomplish something together.
I didn’t realize how much I really needed a chance to rely on the goodness of another until our family went camping for a night. We were in a rush, and the thing we forgot this time was a lighter or match. After valiantly trying to start a fire with the waning sunlight and my binoculars, I eyed up our neighbor’s campfire. Strapping on my mask, I walked over to their site and was met with kindness and generosity. They didn’t just lend me what I needed, they gifted me with their extra lighter. With their gift, we were able to roast our hotdogs and marshmallows, and the kids declared it the best night ever.
My camp neighbors may not have thought about their act of kindness over these past weeks, but I sure have. They showed me the grace and connection I’ve been craving. I just want to know that there are good people out there. I want someone to be kind to me- and I want someone to be kind to.
Church, we are the people who believe that everyone we meet carries God’s own image. Each person is a reflection of God. Christ is the connector between us, forming relationship between strangers. Let’s spend this summer rediscovering this gospel. We’ll do that as we worship, pray, learn, and serve together. We’ll be doing it in an intentional way through our summer series, “I’ve Been Meaning to Ask…” Live the gospel of God’s love and value for each person in every interaction you have. You don’t have to be a pastor to be a preacher. The way you treat others will proclaim God’s love loud and clear.
God is with you!
-Pastor Liz Davis
I’m so excited for summer. I’m hopeful it will be a shift in many things, but at the top of my list is my sense of our collective humanity.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we saw beautiful images of communities supporting each other. There were people playing music on their porches in lock-downed Italy. There were hearts and bears in neighborhood windows. There were outpourings of support for the heroes who continued to work in public-facing, healthcare, and other risky situations. Working from home, I got to see and chat with more of my neighbors than ever before. There were hard things about this time, but also many really beautiful glimpses of our care for each other.
And then… I think we all got burned out by the stressors of the pandemic. I felt it starting to hit in the fall, and it’s continued. Families were divided in their differing views and actions related to the virus. The election season got into full swing and continued on longer than I had expected. My campaign sign got taken from my front yard (by one of those neighbors I was just getting to know?). Everywhere seemed a lot less safe and friendly than it had before. Even churches were frayed by members’ differing expectations and demands. We’ve lost sight of our unity and interdependence. In doing so, we’ve lost sight of the gospel.
God created us for community! “You are the body of Christ: each one of you is a member in it!” (1Corinthians 12:27). In all of our differences, we belong together. We might even say that we belong to each other. To regain that sense of community, we need opportunities to rely on each other, to reaffirm our
relationships through deep listening, and to accomplish something together.
I didn’t realize how much I really needed a chance to rely on the goodness of another until our family went camping for a night. We were in a rush, and the thing we forgot this time was a lighter or match. After valiantly trying to start a fire with the waning sunlight and my binoculars, I eyed up our neighbor’s campfire. Strapping on my mask, I walked over to their site and was met with kindness and generosity. They didn’t just lend me what I needed, they gifted me with their extra lighter. With their gift, we were able to roast our hotdogs and marshmallows, and the kids declared it the best night ever.
My camp neighbors may not have thought about their act of kindness over these past weeks, but I sure have. They showed me the grace and connection I’ve been craving. I just want to know that there are good people out there. I want someone to be kind to me- and I want someone to be kind to.
Church, we are the people who believe that everyone we meet carries God’s own image. Each person is a reflection of God. Christ is the connector between us, forming relationship between strangers. Let’s spend this summer rediscovering this gospel. We’ll do that as we worship, pray, learn, and serve together. We’ll be doing it in an intentional way through our summer series, “I’ve Been Meaning to Ask…” Live the gospel of God’s love and value for each person in every interaction you have. You don’t have to be a pastor to be a preacher. The way you treat others will proclaim God’s love loud and clear.
God is with you!
-Pastor Liz Davis
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