September 7, 2025 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Gratitude to each and every one who participated in Service as Worship this past Sunday. While sabbath is usually called a day of rest, our sabbath was a day of holy labor. Coordinated by Pastor Lauren, you used your hands (and legs, and backs) in the service of the church. I know that your hands were blessed in doing the tasks set before you to make our church safer, cleaner, more beautiful and welcoming (especially the closets). Great job! All that we do with our hands as Christ’s body in this time and place is sacred, and you worked in a great spirit of love and laughter. Take a few moments to contemplate your hands this week. Look at them, flex them, admire them, give thanks for them. No other creatures in God’s realm have hands as skilled and capable as ours. They are really quite wonderful. And this Sunday, with a theme of “Loving Hands” we will focus on the work of God’s hands among us, on Jesus’ touch for those in need, and especially on the love shared in the hands of children. Even our anthem for this Sunday was created by a child, Mattie Stepanek. Such a gift.