Some of you may remember that in November of 2017 our congregation approved a 3-year “Mission Commitment” to help guide our church through a set of values, vision, mission, and priority statements. That Mission Commitment expires December 31, 2020. Therefore, this fall, we will embark on “Mission 2023”, the process to renew our Mission for another 3 years…

Twenty-three centuries ago a Jewish philosopher who some translators call The Preacher wrote those words in what eventually became the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. They seem especially appropriate today.

“Nothing new” stands in sharp contrast to another word we hear often these days: unprecedented. As in, the Pandemic is unprecedented. The Black Lives Matter protests are unprecedented. America’s recent, historic, 33% drop in GDP is unprecedented. Precedent literally means, go before. So, the point, of course, is nothing like this has happened before.

“Oh Lord, how long?” Thus begins the prophet Habakkuk, who — all these 2,600 years later — strikes a chord for people all around the globe in 2020. But this cry is not merely the lament of those (like me!) who are weary of stay-at-home-orders. No, this cry of agony comes from a deeper place…