Goodness Weekly 2.28.22
“Hope is not positivity. It is the deep understanding that there is always more to see beyond my current circumstances.” — Scott Erickson
Message from Jess
I wonder why we are still using the phrase, “everything happens for a reason”?
When we live in the middle of a global pandemic, when people are forced to flee their home, when children die while taking shelter in a kindergarten—“everything happens for a reason” just isn’t a good enough answer anymore.
This Sunday our friend Bethany Hill shared her incredible journey of miracle after miracle in the life-threatening aortic dissection she experienced. She reminded each of us that God is in the response to the event.
One of my favorite passages of scripture is Isaiah 58. In verse 9 we read:
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry for help and God will say: Here I am.
That is the promise we cling to and the hope we can pray for each and every person—that they will know God’s presence in the midst of their suffering.
We can and must pray for this, especially for the most vulnerable. I believe that prayer is tangible; that as Bethany described and as many are reporting from the Ukraine now—prayer is truly, energetically felt.
I also believe that we must fight against the feeling of helplessness that leads to apathy and choose instead to radically love our neighbor—each and every one, right now.
How will you radically love this week?
What’s Good
Last week our Pastoral Leader, Jess Lowry delivered much needed household items that were generously donated by our community to six Afghan refugee families.
These gifts were met with an abundance of love, joy, and hospitality by our new neighbors.
Take a look at our Good Neighbors list below to see how you can help continue to provide love and support for these families.
Good Neighbors
If you are able to meet any of these needs please send us a note at: hello@chariscollective.org
Our neighbor is still in need of a dresser.
Ongoing needs from Afghan families:
2 Sewing Machines & sewing supplies
Bicycle for 8 year old boy
Bicycle for 10 year old boy
Queen size bed & mattress
Twin Mattress
Pressure Cooker (regular, not Instant Pot)
Clothing for boys sizes 12-18 mos, 2T, 3T, 5T
Upcoming Events
Saturday, March 5, 10am-2pm Rose Hip Coffee & Dezynr Clay will host an outdoor International Women’s Day Market featuring local makers and vendors
Sunday, March 6, 3:15pm Workshop on Simplifying Posessions
Sunday, March 6, 4:30pm Supper Church
Sunday, March 20, 4:30pm Outdoor Worship
Saturday, March 26, 8am-2pm We're hosting a Neighborhood Yard sale! Donations of gently used household items are currently being accepted for the sale. Proceeds will support the Charis Park project. More details at chariscollective.org/yardsale
Morning:
Today I ask you to break my heart into action
To see that each act of love is an act of peace
That each prayer I pray is an act of resistance
I lift up my neighbor today—
The suffering
The afraid
The vulnerable
God have mercy
Amen
Evening:
My heart is heavy as I witness the great suffering around the world
Help me to have the courage not to look away
Not to go numb
But to do what I can tomorrow to bring love
To be a person of peace
To be a person of prayer
And to know that it all matters
—Every little bit
In your mercy, hear my prayer.
Amen
