First Word...Well, those May flowers the April showers promise mostly bloomed in March! A more gorgeous April than this year I don’t remember! (That may have more to do with my memory than reality, however). The climate is confusing us. The news of the world troubles us. Relationships ebb and flow and we’re often thrown off balance. This happens whether we’re teenagers or golden agers. We live in “interesting times” as the apocryphal Chinese curse attests. So, how do we navigate these turbulent waters? How do we live in this world without being overcome by it? How can we go even farther and be a force that changes the climate to one of gentleness and peace? What can we do to calm the world’s trouble and re-balance off-kilter relationships? During this Eastertide find the power in the risen Christ. Seek the way of discipleship to which you are called. PRAY for the needs of the world and your neighbors. JOIN in worship when you can. HELP with missions which seek to bless the world (YES, you can! Check out UCC.org. website. Check out what Kent UCC Outreach, Deacons, Education are doing. Buy stock to support the UYF mission trip. Donate food, clothing, etc to Kent Social Services.) LOVE, BLESS and PRAY for the troubled world each time you see a news article or hear a disturbing report. THANK GOD for the love that searches out the lost sheep and the missing coin. Let yourself be found and spent in that divine love for the sake of the world Christ came to save – warts and all! Let the climate of hope and love surround you as the soft May weather soothes you like the warmth of God’s steadfast love. God’s love is unchanging, unlike the climate!
Second Word...Call the church office if you have pastoral care needs or you want a concern of joy added to or removed from the prayer list. 330-673-9534