As we prepare our tables, our travel, and our time off for another celebration of Thanksgiving Day, I find myself thinking that giving thanks is harder than it seems. I say “thank you” to people dozens of times a day. I say thanks for giving me my coffee, thanks for bagging my groceries, thanks for doing that thing I asked you to do. I do it so naturally and habitually that I wonder if I even know what I’m saying! Saying thanks is a habit. 

“Why doesn’t God DO something about the suffering in this world?” This question often sits at the heart of why people struggle with having faith in God. It is often the reason people choose to reject the idea of God, to be an A- (meaning “not” in Greek) Theist (one who assents to the existence of the Divine). It is a fair question and should not be dismissed.

Compassion isn’t easy. It’s a challenging choice to stand with others in their weakness, vulnerability, loneliness, and brokenness. Often, our first instinct is to avoid suffering—either by trying to fix it quickly or by distancing ourselves from it. We’re conditioned to be active and productive, wanting to prove our worth by making a visible difference. Yet, in this pursuit, we can overlook one of our greatest gifts: the ability to stand in true solidarity with those who are hurting.

We all continue to endure the political ads, blustering rhetoric, misinformation, and incivility of another election. Most of us, I think, will be relieved when the election is over. I’m not sure that candidates understand that demoralizing the electorate is not a good long-term strategy. Demoralized or not, however, as Christians, we have a responsibility to participate in elections and cast our votes. We have a responsibility to lift-up our leaders in prayer and work to make the world a better place through our political decisions. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 instructs: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

I’m back. After a graciously granted sabbatical, I have resumed my regular duties at Holy Trinity. I want to say, once again, “Thank you!” The foresight and care that the congregation shows in having a sabbatical policy in place is more than appreciated. It is essential. 

In a perfect garden, created by God for the sake of humanity, evil entered in the form of deception and lies. Christians refer to this story, found in the biblical book of Genesis, as the fall of humanity. This foray into human sin began when Adam and Eve, the first humans created in the image of God, were deceived.

​When we think of kintsugi, we often picture it in a museum-like setting. We often see this Japanese art as a broken piece of pottery with lightning-like streaks of gold leaf, set against a sterile background. In this form, we admire the artistry—its beauty as an artifact.

In my mid 30’s as I started to engage more with my faith and God, I was encouraged to have a “daily quiet time” with Jesus. This usually meant five minutes of Bible reading and five minutes of prayer—a quick and efficient routine. It wasn’t uncommon for someone at men’s bible study to ask how your “daily quiet time” was going, and for many, it was just another task to check off.

On Sunday, August 25, the high school youth and adults who attended the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer hosted a “Taste of New Orleans” brunch for the congregation to share stories and say thank you for all the prayers and support they received. There were various types of delicious New Orleans cuisine served that the group enjoyed during our time there, including jambalaya, bread pudding and beignets to name a few. The kids who could, some of our group had show choir rehearsals, shared their pictures, stories and takeaways from the experience.