All moments are key moments
Dear First Pres SLO Family,
(Read to the end for an important announcement about in-person worship at First Pres.)
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Messiah, the one who came to give us a glimpse into the heart and mind of Almighty God…what a glorious gift that is.
This past week we lost one of the great Christian writers of our age. Frederick Buechner explored the heart of belief and calling, and gave words to both the struggles and joys of faith. He leaves behind an extensive list of meaningful sentences and stories and poetry that preserved the grace and gentle love of Christ, even as much of the Christian faith in America became absorbed into bitter culture war pointlessness.
It was Buechner (pronounced, BEEK-ner) who defined the calling of each Christian by saying: “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.” In other words, “calling” isn’t some lightning bolt moment, but instead the place where the people God made us to be fills a gap in another person’s life. How beautiful.
Buechner reminded all of us that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed as a gift from God. He wrote:
“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."
That’s the kind of perspective that helps keep individuals and churches focused on what’s really important. Each moment of our lives—the moments we spend alone or working or with friends and family—each of those moments are precious and meant to be felt and remembered and enjoyed.
The same goes for our moments together as a church.
It’s easy in church life to have our eyes fixed on future goals and dreams and (if we’re honest) settling old scores. But the moments we experience together along the way are every bit as important. As Buechner wrote, “the boredom and the pain of it, no less that the excitement and gladness”.
We have much to do together, and that will take planning and thinking ahead. But in the meantime, my hope for us is that we remember to enjoy and be grateful for the moments along the way: from the celebration of another wonderful Vacation Bible School, to the challenge of meeting our annual budget, and everything in between. All moments are key moments, we are reminded, and life itself is grace.
Blessings to you and yours,
Pastor John
Important Announcement about In-Person Worship
The FPCSLO Session voted last night to make masks optional for Sunday morning worship. We encourage you to continue to be careful as the COVID virus remains a threat, but for the time being we are relaxing the requirement for masks during Sunday services. The mask requirement remains for community events such as Jazz Vespers and other concerts or services.
NOTE: In-person worship remains open to fully vaccinated people (we know that some children are not yet vaccinated)—this has not changed.
Please be respectful of each person’s choices as we navigate our response to the pandemic.