Growing the Faith of the People
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 was a BLAST! Thank you for participating in the Chili Cookoff, Costume Parade, and Trick or Treating! The chili was so yummy that there was a tie between Sally Key Bowden and Caroline Varner Fields!
| Often when someone loses a friend there is something I call Ambiguous Anger. When we lose someone, we grieve normally channeled in anger. Our response to loss is voiced in anger, but the difficulty is we canāt put our finger on it. It is ambiguous in nature, as if just beyond our fingertips. We know something isnāt right, something is not as we want it, but we struggle, and many times canāt give the right expression, so out comes anger. This is especially true when someone dies unexpectedly and without notice, and we didnāt have a chance to express certain thoughts or affections before he/she died. Sometimes we blame, withdraw, or try to rationalize our pain but seldom find the right expression of what is churning on the inside. Much of grief is finding the right expression. This struggle is only compounded when one dies suddenly and prematurely. How many times have you thought, āI should have saidā¦ā or āI wish he/she knew ā¦ā? What do we do when we are muddled in a situation like this? First, make an honest assessment of your actions. Often, one has expressed their love, gratitude, and appreciation in life, but our sadness works to prevent us from seeing all the times we did show love to the departed. Second, express your pain to God in prayer. If much of grief is finding the right expression, then express all emotions to God. Surely, God is big enough to handle our pain and sadness, for one only needs to look to the Psalms to see the many times God welcomes human expression in all forms. Third, donāt miss future opportunities to voice gratitude, appreciation, and/or love. Though we might not be able to change the past, we can change the future. Proper expressions always make the transition of grief easier. There will always be sadness associated with a loss, but how and at what speed one transitions through the grief process is dependent upon our expressions.  Ā This Week’s Readings: *Monday – John 16 *Tuesday – John 17 *Wednesday – John 18 *Thursday – John 19 *Friday – John 20 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents coping with anxiety. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC. |
| āDonāt worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.ā – Philippians 4:6 |
| What is the value of a calm soul? When we flee from meddling in the affairs of others, it is hard to own their anxiety. A patient person will outlive other peopleās problems. Though it is impossible to live where nothing displeases or bothers you; however, we donāt have to feed it. When someone slanders, speaks harshly, or lashes out, no immediate response is needed. When we focus to calm our own souls, we are less likely to add fuel to the fire. Delay and pray normally is a good practice. God supports the meek. They are the ones that are not weak but have a controlled strength. They find solace in trusting God and relying on His care. Remember the words of the Psalmist (Psalm 37): āDo not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fretāit leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.ā These are words to live by and put into practice. So be it for you. Ā This Week’s Readings: *Monday – John 6 *Tuesday – John 7 *Wednesday – John 8 *Thursday – John 9 *Friday – John 10 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents coping with anxiety. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC. |
| āDonāt worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.ā – Philippians 4:6 |
Thank you for coming out this afternoon to have your beloved pets blessed by Rev. Dr. Shane Green.
Mary Lou has a reminder about St. Paul for All – SP4A – on October 23rd! Sign up for a shift at https://stpaulcolumbus.com/events/