News for the Church, 2/19/21

A Snowy Hello to you Church!

Have you finished shoveling out from the big storm we got on Tuesday? I hope so. What a winter it’s been, huh? And they’re calling for more of the white stuff again today! If there was ever a year to get to be a little kid– to tunnel, and build, and roll around in the snow– this is the year for it! 

Do you have fond memories of playing in the snow when you were little? If so, I’d love to hear about it. 🙂 

This week I’ve got just a couple of things to tell you about. 

The Sunday after next– on the 28th– the Rev. Dr. Shaun Whitehead will be joining us in worship once again. She is such a treasure to our community, and I am so thankful that she is able to give me a rest each month. Like many of you, I struggle with my body, and having a Sunday off on a regular basis makes a big difference for me. It’s also good for all of us to have a different voice bringing us a word from the Word on a consistent basis. It helps us to remember that God speaks to the people in many different ways. 

This last week the church received a curious email from a man named Jonathan Bruce, who lives out in Eugene, Oregon. He was wondering if we have any historical records relating to Lydia (Perkins) Sayles and Nicholas Sayles. He thinks they might have been married at our church back in the 1830s. I’m wondering if any of you historians out there recognize the name, or if there are any sleuths who might enjoy going on a treasure hunt in the history closet to see if a written record of this couple’s wedding exists. The history closet is a special place, which requires patience and delicate handling, but that offers great satisfaction to wondering and curious minds. Let me know if you’d like to help work on this project! 

And speaking of history– friends, George Davis has been hanging on all week, but the end is drawing near for him. I would ask that you would continue to hold him in your prayers in his final days. I’ve spent some good time at his house this week, and enjoyed hearing many stories of George and Ann in all of their adventures– in both our Potsdam community, and in our church. For nearly 70 years, they brought joy and good tidings to our community!

Dear Hearts, even as we sit with George this week, I wonder how you are faring. Right now is such a struggle, and on some level, none of us is ok right now. Between the pandemic, winter, growing older, and wondering what is to come next for our church, the weight is heavy. Isn’t it? 

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we don’t have to carry this weight alone– that we are not designed to carry this heaviness alone. God created us to be social beings who need each other. So don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you are really struggling. It is not a sign of weakness to admit when you can’t bare your load alone. These last couple of weeks I myself have hit my breaking point, and found myself falling to pieces. But I have been reminded yet again, that when we can be truthful about the state we may find ourselves in, and we ask for help, God provides. 

Sometimes we need encouragement to acknowledge when we are cracking. Sometimes we need reminding that people who love us are able and willing to hold us together when we can’t do it for ourselves– if we can gather together the courage to ask. 

The book of Lamentations acknowledges that life is painful and hard– beyond what we ourselves can possibly bare alone. And/but…. God’s strength is there to uphold us in these times. If only we would be humble enough to open ourselves up to asking. 

“The Steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

Living in humility this week,
Pastor Katrina