Greetings Siblings in Christ,
We are now entering into the month of October! Summer is over, and Fall has begun. The leaves are changing, and the weather is cooler. Luca, Eileen, and I are enjoying this weather by sitting on our porch. We also just went to our first orchard of the season. We love our pumpkins and apples. Luca is also a big fan of apple cider donuts. In October, football season is also fully in season, and red October, the Phillies postseason, has begun. So, overall, it has been a pretty good Fall season so far. However, as I look around, I sometimes wonder if things are good? War is still prevalent in so many places, including in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Oppression and injustices are still so frequent, and political turmoil is widespread. Then, on a more general level, life has just been hard for so many for several years. Over the last ten years, a lot has happened, including the pandemic and rise of inflation. Then, people also just have their own personal issues that they have had to deal with. So, sometimes life does not always seem good, and as Christians we have been told throughout our lives to pray and things will get better. However, do things actually get better? Well, sometimes they do and in other instances they do not.
However, this is not necessarily why we pray. We do not pray solely to make things better, but for the hope of God made known in Jesus Christ. We pray to call upon God knowing that God will answer. We pray to be in relationship with God and with other people. Prayer joins us with God and with others in love. Prayer prompts us to be involved in God’s work here on earth, and it helps us to discern our role within this work. We pray because of the greatness and the goodness of God. In Psalm 145, King David lifts up God’s goodness and greatness and reminds the reader that “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (v.18 NRSV). Thus, when we pray, we are reminded that God is always near, and so there is goodness in this world. Even in the hardest of times, God is here to walk with us and to give us comfort throughout it all, to be hope to the world.
In the different prayer lists throughout my congregations, you may have seen my great grandmother’s name, Mary Lou Clayton. In March of 2024, she turned 95 years old. However, for the last year, she has been in and out of the hospital and rehab for numerous health reasons. The other day I was talking with her on the phone. She expressed to me that she has been having a hard time lately. She has been grieving the loss of her mobility and the functionality of her hands. At one point in our conversation, I told her that my two congregations have been praying for her for a while now. She hadn't known that she was on the prayer list. However, when I told her, she was immediately moved and comforted, because she was reminded that she is not alone. Thus, there is indeed a need for prayer! Therefore, I pray that we always remember that we are never alone. I pray that we may always feel God’s greatness and goodness and may God's presence always be known in all the world, now and forever, amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
We are now entering into the month of October! Summer is over, and Fall has begun. The leaves are changing, and the weather is cooler. Luca, Eileen, and I are enjoying this weather by sitting on our porch. We also just went to our first orchard of the season. We love our pumpkins and apples. Luca is also a big fan of apple cider donuts. In October, football season is also fully in season, and red October, the Phillies postseason, has begun. So, overall, it has been a pretty good Fall season so far. However, as I look around, I sometimes wonder if things are good? War is still prevalent in so many places, including in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Oppression and injustices are still so frequent, and political turmoil is widespread. Then, on a more general level, life has just been hard for so many for several years. Over the last ten years, a lot has happened, including the pandemic and rise of inflation. Then, people also just have their own personal issues that they have had to deal with. So, sometimes life does not always seem good, and as Christians we have been told throughout our lives to pray and things will get better. However, do things actually get better? Well, sometimes they do and in other instances they do not.
However, this is not necessarily why we pray. We do not pray solely to make things better, but for the hope of God made known in Jesus Christ. We pray to call upon God knowing that God will answer. We pray to be in relationship with God and with other people. Prayer joins us with God and with others in love. Prayer prompts us to be involved in God’s work here on earth, and it helps us to discern our role within this work. We pray because of the greatness and the goodness of God. In Psalm 145, King David lifts up God’s goodness and greatness and reminds the reader that “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (v.18 NRSV). Thus, when we pray, we are reminded that God is always near, and so there is goodness in this world. Even in the hardest of times, God is here to walk with us and to give us comfort throughout it all, to be hope to the world.
In the different prayer lists throughout my congregations, you may have seen my great grandmother’s name, Mary Lou Clayton. In March of 2024, she turned 95 years old. However, for the last year, she has been in and out of the hospital and rehab for numerous health reasons. The other day I was talking with her on the phone. She expressed to me that she has been having a hard time lately. She has been grieving the loss of her mobility and the functionality of her hands. At one point in our conversation, I told her that my two congregations have been praying for her for a while now. She hadn't known that she was on the prayer list. However, when I told her, she was immediately moved and comforted, because she was reminded that she is not alone. Thus, there is indeed a need for prayer! Therefore, I pray that we always remember that we are never alone. I pray that we may always feel God’s greatness and goodness and may God's presence always be known in all the world, now and forever, amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
