Helping Hands:
Thank you to the crew who mowed the lawn, and cleaned out, weeded, and planted bright cheerful flowers in the memorial garden.
Watch for details regarding a "Mask Drive" to share masks with the community. If you are interested in sewing masks or assisting with distribution, please contact the church.
Saturday, May 23: Ruby's Pantry at Mission Creek Church, 521 131st Avenue W., 11 am-12:30 pm
From Pastor Paul, Toward Sunday:
"I am asking…on behalf of those you gave me, because they are yours." ~John 17:9
I've been thinking a lot this week about friends…those from my past, those present, and those that have passed away but are still very present. I think of the ones that held on through my hard times, and I also think of those that chose to make themselves distant when I needed them – those that stayed away in times of darkness, or took sides in time of divorce – friends that opted to engage in judgment rather than seeking understanding.
Catching myself here: I just spent more words on the negative than I did on the positive when talking about friends in that last paragraph – which is a telltale sign that something ain't right with my thoughts. I ask God to help me catch it. Maybe they were going through hard times themselves, and I was so wrapped up in my own drama that I missed their own need for friendship? Light and dark are always at play, influencing one another, and it's a fair bet that we will never know the full truth of every relationship.
But hey, friendship is important…and I might go so far to say that it is essential. So for this moment, friends, take an inventory. Who are they? Are they there for you? Are you there for them right now?
See, there's a unique aspect to this farewell discourse in John's gospel (faith tip: read through the teens in John as one unit…you'll thank me for it!). Here, Jesus is praying for his disciples. He is petitioning God on the disciples' behalf. Now let's take it a step further: as we are the church in that living tradition of the disciples, they are the "Christians" that we have become. So it's worth letting this sink in: Jesus is praying for us!
Usually we're the ones doing the praying – buying a one-way ticket to transcendence. But when we pray (to mix metaphors here), it's helpful to remember that we don't travel down a one-way street. Prayers like Jesus's in John are coming right back at us! Put another way: Jesus is praying for me.
Know why? Because Jesus loves me…this I know, for (my exegetical analysis of Johanine Gospel) tells me so.
And here's a double "know-why?" Because he loves us. Because he's a friend – and not a conditional friend, but a stand-by got-your-back thick-and-thin sort of friend. You couldn't push that friend away if you tried.
Remember that, friends. It's sure helped me. I'm thinking it will be a dose of grace in your day to think about it as well.
Keep in touch,
Pastor Paul