5.8.26

Dear Grace Family,

What a joy to share this community life with you. This week I’ve had the opportunity to live out that verse from Romans 12 we talked about on Sunday. I’ve gotten to celebrate people finishing degrees, seeing progress in their family life, and a few who decided to follow Jesus for the first time! We rejoice with those who rejoice! But, I’ve also heard very hard stories–loss of a loved one, a difficult pregnancy, a family member returning to addiction. We mourn with those who mourn! 

This is our journey as the family of God. We actually live life with one another. And, while loneliness remains an epidemic in America, and we feel it too, there are folks around you who want to help and care. As a community of faith, this is all complex, but it’s an honor to be able to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Thanks for being that kind of place. 

This Sunday we’ll finish our How To Be Human series by looking at what faith looks like in our homes, where we live. Rachel will join me this week so I hope you can make it. And, I told our staff earlier that once you hear her, you might be ready to move on from me already! We’ll share some stories from our own homes and open Psalm 16 together. 

On Sunday, in the midst of worship and opening the Word together, we’ll also be acknowledging and celebrating Mother’s Day. And, this, again, is an opportunity to live out community together. We have some celebrating their first Mother’s Day as a new mom, some of whom will be dedicating babies on Sunday! We’ll have some celebrating with their moms together at Grace. But, for many others, Mother’s Day is a hard moment. A reminder of a mom who has been lost, dreams of children that didn’t come true, or a painful moment to remember loss. We will rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. But, we’ll do it as a community. 

Scripture’s picture of God is primarily as Father to us. He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But, there are also images of how God cares for us like a mother does her children. “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13. Then, in Deuteronomy 32, God is compared to a mother eagle: "Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft." There are many others. 

So, this Mother’s Day, as we come to worship as a human community worshiping an infinite God, let’s remember that He has compassion for us, care for us, and space for us, spreading wings of protection and direction over us. Our God sees all of the celebration, but also all of the pain. So, if this one is especially hard for you, God welcomes you as you are. And His heart is for you. 

See you Sunday! 

Pastor Tim