A big thank you to our music director, Deana Gurney, and her incredible team — Cali Crowley, Don Labbe, and Jo Fein — for keeping the music flowing seamlessly on Sunday, even in Deana’s absence. Shoutout to Scott Mazer in the sound booth to make sure the music tracks were all set, and a special thanks to Kim Cowperthwaite, who stepped up to handle the slides for the service when Christine Wolf wasn’t available. What an amazing team effort — great job, everyone!
I’m also feeling so grateful and inspired by everyone who joined the inaugural Power Up for the Wisdom Years group. It was such a special start to this new space for sharing our journeys into, or within, the wisdom years. Whether you’re stepping into this stage of life, in it yourself, or caring for someone navigating it with health challenges, this group is here to support and connect us. We’ll continue meeting on the second Sunday of each month at 11:45, with the next gathering set for April 13th. I hope to see you there!
As we continue the Lenten series “Reflection and Spiritual Growth: Living Out Our Faith” the topic for Sunday was The Call to Service. We explored the call to embody our faith through acts of service and compassion. We reflected on how service is integral to our spiritual life and how it mirrors the love and teachings of Jesus the Christ.
The message began with the biblical roots of service, looking at Jesus’ ministry and the early Christian community. Their faith was evident in how they served others, offering us powerful lessons in humility, selflessness, and love.
We then turned to the practical side of service in today’s world. We examined the needs within our communities and reflected on where we feel called to serve. This conversation emphasized recognizing and using our unique gifts to make a positive impact.
There are spiritual rewards of service — serving others draws us closer to the Divine and fosters personal growth. By approaching service as both a responsibility and a blessing, we can experience deeper joy and purpose in our faith journey.
Acknowledging the challenges that can arise—such as time constraints, self-doubt, or limited resources, there are ways to address these hurdles with creativity and perseverance. Cultivating a spirit of service helps us rise above obstacles.
Finally, we explored how service transforms not only the lives of those we help but also our own. Through acts of compassion and generosity, we gain new perspectives, deeper faith, and a greater understanding of the Divine.
This message served as an invitation to reflect on how we can live out our faith through meaningful acts of service, both in our daily lives and as a community. Remember I am always open to new ideas and ways we can serve and grow.
Next week we are taking the Journey of Forgiveness. If you missed this week’s message, you can watch it here.
I’m deeply grateful for each of you taking the time to read this. You truly are special!
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
