Dear Middletown Reformed Church Family and Friends,
Epiphany blessings to you!
As I’ve been preparing reports for our annual congregational meeting this Sunday, I’ve been thinking a lot about my inner child, gifts we are given by God, and our calling. I believe that each one of us has been given a gift, and it remains a part of our inner child who never leaves us, no matter how old we get, and God grows this gift up in us for the calling God places on our lives, whenever and wherever it happens.
To be sure, my inner child (I call her ‘little Trishy’ - a nickname from my family) has been quite active this past week. Mostly, she’s been confused and sad because from a very early age I’ve been an empath. Growing up I just couldn’t wrap my young mind around why people enslaved other people because of the color of their skin; why we had wars; why and how the Holocaust happened; why the indigenous people of this land were systematically destroyed and put on reservations; how it could be that people would be cruel to animals; why some people were oppressed because of whom they loved — you get the idea. In general, I didn’t get and I still don’t get why people are unkind to one another and would actively work to prevent another person from flourishing in life.
I reckon why ‘little Trishy’ has been active and chatty is because I’ve been witnessing a lot of energy this week going toward the negation of people’s full flourishing, either in the LGBTQ+ community or our immigrant neighbors. And my inner child has always been one that delights in joy, love, compassion, and freedom for all God’s children. Mostly because my faith teaches me; indeed, Jesus’ life and ministry teaches me, God delights in the same things — I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10.10).
How is your inner child doing these days?
What gift were you given when you were young that has grown up with you and is waiting to be used, or is being used by God?
Come this Third Sunday after Epiphany to worship God and learn more about the calling from our inner child. Tom will lead us in our hymns and I am preaching from Luke 5.1-11 — Jesus performs a miracle that has to do with catching a lot of fish and ‘catches’ Simon Peter, too — and my sermon title is The Inner Child’s Gift. In addition, all are warmly welcome to stay for our annual congregational meeting after worship. After the meeting, we will have a delicious lunch/coffee hour time prepared by the Consistory.
On Sunday, we will hear about all the ways God has given us opportunities to participate as a church in the transformative work of the kingdom. As you listen, I wonder if God is calling you to serve God and your neighbor in a new and different way. I invite you to listen to your inner child and to the Holy Spirit’s whispering, and see what may be next in God’s program of joy, love, compassion, and freedom for all. Until then, keep following Jesus, beloved. Keep following Jesus.
With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,
Pastor Trish
Please note that if you missed the New Member class last week you can still come this Sunday at 9 AM in the Education Building. For those who have been considering becoming a member of MRC, come with your questions and wonderings — I will be delighted to answer them for you.