Weariness

As our election process continues and election day arrives next week, we are weary. We are afraid. We are hopeful. We are angry. We are hurt. Such a mixed array of feelings. And, as God would have it, my sermon the Sunday after the election is on the beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” I look forward to thinking through what that means for us in these contentious days. Meanwhile, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote these words in his journal on October 6, 1774:

“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them,
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy:
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And,
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
I find these words wise and challenging. What does it look like for each of us to live out these words this week? I pray for each of us and for our country, that we express ourselves by participating in our democracy, and that we do so with wisdom and compassion.
 
WEEKLY SCRIPTURES
I invite you to read one scripture a day this week. They build on the idea of being peacemakers. Something we and our world desperately need. Weekly scriptures are here. 
 
WORSHIP
This week is All Saints Day. I invite you to bring a candle with you to worship. We will light candles in memory of loved ones. It is also communion Sunday, so I invite you to bring bread and juice, or something to eat and something to drink, as we celebrate the mystery of God’s grace in Jesus. And, we have a guest preacher. Rev. Dr. Chris Haughee from Intermountain Children’s Home will be bringing the message for us. It will be a great Sunday on Zoom! Hope to see your face on my screen.
 
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL
Thanks to all who have agreed to write a devotion for us this year. If you could email those to me this week, that would be awesome! I still need 7 more writers to share a thought about peace, hope, faith, joy or love. Let me know if you can help out.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Time change remember to “fall back” Saturday night so you are on time for worship on Sunday!
• Thank you for your generous support of UMCOR and cleaning buckets for those dealing with the devastating hurricanes in the southeast. We collected the equivalent of about 15 buckets worth of cleaning supplies as well as several financial donations. Your generosity will be hope and kindness for people in difficult times.
• PPE for BUMP! We are collecting PPE (masks, hand sanitizer, and wipes) for our brothers and sister on the Blackfeet reservation. In speaking with Rev. Calvin Hill, who serves BUMP (Blackfeet United Methodist Parish) he said they have plenty of food, adequate wood, but not enough PPE. Bring donations to your church by Nov. 1st. I will collect on Nov. 2 and put it in the mail.
• Join us on Zoom or in person at Holbrook on Sunday, Nov. 22nd from 12-p for our annual Church Conference. We will set our budget, leadership, and goals for 2021.

 
ZOOM INFO (Our Zoom meeting ID and passwords can be found in our weekly emails):

• Weekly worship continues indefinitely on Sundays at 9 am. 
• Hymns and Prayers: Join us for a mid-week pick-me-up on Thursdays at 7 pm. 
• Meaningful Conversations: Join us on Wednesdays at 11 am as we talk about how we live as followers of Jesus in our divided world. 

The Lord bless you and keep you!
 
Pastor Patti