WORD FROM THE PASTOR - OCTOBER 2023

As I look at the calendar for this month, I am struck by the special prayer focuses of the Moravian Church which are suggested for the coming Sundays: Oct. 1 – World-wide Communion Sunday, Oct 8 – Prayer Day for World Mission, Oct 15 – Prayer Day for Peace with Justice and Freedom, Oct 22 – Prayer Day for Human Rights for Women, one Sunday in the month – Prayer Day for Children. What strikes me is a common thread I notice, a thread that we are all connected by God. 
These prayer days help us focus on the fact that we are ALL beloved children of God; that we are connected to one another as siblings through Christ. Since we are brothers and sisters, we are called upon to support and uphold one another to God, to stand up for one another’s needs, to share one another’s burdens. Prayer is just one way we are able to live out Jesus’ desire that, “…they may all be one…” (John 17:21). What saddens me is that we need to pray these prayers. 

In our world, we speak a lot about “rights”, usually talking about my rights. Sometimes we become a bit shortsighted and forget that those around us share the same rights. We tend to be willing to stand up for our own rights when we feel like someone is starting to encroach upon them, but how often are we willing to become just as adamant when we see the rights of someone else stepped upon? We would like to think that we would be the first to speak out, but unfortunately that is not always the case, especially if it issomeone who we don’t like, don’t get agree with, or have hurt us. 

We live in a world that uses our differences to divide and pit us against each other, so we become less likely to stand with or for each other. Yet our God has united us by blood as one family, joint heirs of the Kingdom of God and brothers and sisters in the faith. This means seeking ways that we can stand with and for those around us. Stand up against criticism, bigotry, and favoritism. Stand with those who are fighting so that ALL may have a place in our society, stand for those who cannot stand for themselves, and with behind those who need the support of many so their just cause can be heard and justice be done. 
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Serving with you in Christ, 
Pastor Beth