May 14, 2025 Weekly Update
Last Sunday was Mother’s Day, and in worship we remembered the promise of Jesus to give his nurturing and supportive Spirit to his followers. Even though Jesus would leave, his disciples would still “see” him because they would receive his Spirit. But despite this promise, the disciples isolated themselves in fear after his death. Sometimes, we also find ourselves isolated or lonely, especially during seasons of grief, upheaval, or transition.
If you missed worship last Sunday, we watched a video compiling people across generations sharing how they feel isolated and often alone. In a world that feels overconnected, feeling isolated rings true for many of us. I invite you to watch this video at the link below.
Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in 2023 that the U.S. is experiencing an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” I think we forget the power within us as the church to find one another and remember we belong to God.
We all have a responsibility to be the presence of God to those who feel alone. That’s what the power of the Spirit can look like. Isolation stems from a lack of meaningful social connections. But our words, our compassion, our presence is the presence of God working through us as Christ’s voice and hands. We bring connection to each other – neighbor to neighbor, divine through us to neighbor.
Here’s the video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVPc46GFq-4
Easter blessings,
Pastor Jared