But I Will Shine Light

Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,

Greetings of peace to you!

Well, beloved, I believe many of us would agree that this current election cycle has been contentious and we are feeling weary of it all — in body, mind, and spirit. As your pastor, I cannot and would never tell you how to vote, but I certainly will tell you TO VOTE, if you haven’t done so already, and never to take this right for granted. For women and people of color especially, it was a difficult, long, and courageous battle that was waged for us to have this right. Only one woman — Charlotte Woodward, a working class woman — from the original Seneca Falls meeting was alive to vote when the 19th Amendment was passed.

So, as Election Day is nearing, and we feel exhaustion in our bones, I encourage us as followers of Jesus to keep at it. To pray for peace, to choose love by “opening ourselves to the power of love,” and to shine the Light.

In darkness, light

There are many who are not praying for peace,

people who are praying resentment and grievance,

violence and division, people praying fear and anger.

But that's not the station my heart is tuned to.

I listen for the voice of healing.

I am attuned to the spirit of peace.

I open myself to the power of love, even toward the cruel.

I entrust myself to the mystery of grace.

I offer myself to the flow of mercy.

Amid cruelty I practice kindness.

In the face of lies I speak truth.

While others are shouting, I listen. 

In chaos, I choose love.

In conflict, I choose love.

Even to the end, I will choose love.

I will not save the world,

but I will help the world;

I will be a force for good.

I may not change minds or sway an election,

but I will shine light. 

And the darkness cannot overcome it.  --Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Come to church this All Saints Sunday as we remember the loved ones we lost this year and to worship a God of healing, love, truth, peace, and light. The Joyful Noise Adult Choir will sing the Anthem “Now and Forever.” We will come to God’s table of amazing grace and celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper as the body of Christ. After worship, we will continue the feast at another table at our First Sunday Brunch in the Education Building.

This Sunday we have the joy and privilege of welcoming to the pulpit my friend and colleague, Rev. Craig Peterson. Rev. Peterson is the Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development with the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ. In the twenty-one years he spent serving as a local pastor, Rev. Peterson served on three associations’ Committees on Ministry.  These experiences instilled in him a passion for mentoring individuals on the path to authorized ministry, supporting local churches in their efforts to embody the Gospel, and caring for authorized ministers. Rev. Peterson is a natural bridge builder who thrives when bringing diverse peoples together first to identify shared vision and values and then acknowledge and learn from their differences in experience and perspective. His early work as an educator and community organizer in the fields of juvenile corrections, public health, and human rights shaped his drive to exhort local churches to lead by example. Rev. Peterson received his bachelor’s degree in education from Pacific Lutheran University and his Master of Divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology. Rev. Peterson will be preaching from Revelation 21.1-6a and his sermon title is On the Other Side.  

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. In the meantime . . .

Pray for peace. Choose love. Shine the Light. Keep following Jesus.  

With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish