A Message from Pastor Candace...

This year the Presbyterian Women have been studying the Sabbath. We have learned that practicing Sabbath involves more than just not working on Sundays. It involves mindfulness, resting in God’s Spirit, enjoying creation and promoting    justice. The Sabbath isn’t just a personal practice, but a communal one in which all of creation participates. I encourage you to think about how you celebrate (or don’t) Sabbath. Do your activities involve moving closer to God or just a day off?

Another spiritual practice that is important in the daily life of faith is prayer. This May is full of opportunities to grow in faith, in fellowship, and in fortifying others through service. May 4th is the National Day of Prayer followed by World Labyrinth Day on May 6th. Our labyrinth will be open after worship on the 7th. I ask you to commit to praying more often this month. There are resources available on our Facebook page as well as paper copies in the sanctuary. Since I am constantly using my phone, I plan to use the provided screen saver to remind me to pray. We are using a modernized version of the monastic tradition which used prayer times throughout the day to keep the faithful focused on God. May is also the time when we    celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.

In July I will leave on my sabbatical. The Session and I are working hard to make sure that church life runs as smoothly as possible during my absence. Part of making that work will involve the congregation coming together to help so that no one person is overly burdened. Frequently, we forget about the effort that goes on behind the scenes to keep the church running and able to serve the community. You all did a great job pitching in when we moved into our new building and I am sure that you will do well this summer. More details will be available soon.

Pastor Candace