Good things happen even during bad things.

Weekly Word from the Interim Pastor

No, the world is not going to hell in a handbasket.

At least, not any more than usual.

This last week has, between the bombings at the Boston Marathon, the Texas fertilizer plant, the investigations in Boston, and the usual wear-and-tear of people and family members of the congregation being hospitalized or stressed by circumstance, seemed worse than most, but on reflection, we’ve endured similarly or even more alarming weeks before.

Life is like that.  Bad things happen.  Bad things happen to good people.  But even more importantly, good things happen even during bad things.  That’s called grace.

After the Newtown school shootings, I used a lovely quote from Presbyterian minister Mr. Rogers that has been circulating again after the events in Boston.  “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers– so many caring people in this world.”

As much as after Sandy Hook or even 9/11, the memorable photos, video, and stories from this week show people (and not just official personnel) moving into the smoke in Boston or  West, TX to help.  Hold that thought.  Tell the children in your life what Mrs. Rogers told little Fred; it is still true.

It is people of faith and good will (whether they are “Christian” or not) who keep being the handbaskets that pluck others out of those moments of hell.  Look for the helpers.  Be the helpers.  “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

And above all, remember Paul’s song to the Romans in the face of craziness: “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
                                                                                                            In Christ,
                                                                                                                           David

II remind you that in the next couple of months, First Congregational Church will be holding several small, informal conversations at various homes and the church for people to share with me and members of the interim planning group their experiences of this church over the years (not just in the past three) so I can understand the landscape and history.  If you are willing to host such a small group or have a suggestion, please talk to me or email me at interimpastor@fccithaca.org; I still need a few more volunteers! 


Texts For Sunday Worship:
New Testament        Acts 9:36-43
Epistles                    Revelation 7:9-17
*Gospels                  John 10:22-30

Note: These texts will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.