August 2025

Anxiety might be an appropriate response to all that is going on in the world currently, followed by existential dread. KC Greene’s image of the dog sitting in a burning house with the caption “this is fine” comes to mind often.
I wish that Sunday worship attendance would end those feelings for you… the best we can offer is perspectives on appropriate coping responses. In times of dread, it is comforting to me to be reminded there have always been times of dread. God’s people have throughout our history faced times of anxiety, fear, and existential dread.
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and
night, shall not cease.   –   Genesis 8:22
The beginning of the Bible presents early on a story of the end of the world through flood. It seems somewhat appropriate that just as soon as people learn about other people in the world, there is an existential threat that it all may end. Yet, God saves people through water, then promises that as long as the earth endures, so will everything. I have no real idea of all that will
transpire in the world, in our community, or even in our congregation. Yet, I know that the days will come and go as they always have. We will have Sunday worship, the Good News of Jesus Christ will be proclaimed and as a faithful community we will respond in love and faith to the needs of our community. God has promised even in the shadow of destruction that all will be
one day after the next.
Within this newsletter you will find news of congregational information sessions and an
upcoming meeting with a vote pertaining to our financial realities. This may cause many
questions, and some anxieties, maybe additional existential dread. We will walk through this together, and if you have any questions at all please let me know or ask any member of our congregational council.
God bless you beloved ones and know that all will be well.
Pr. Erik ​