Dear friends in Christ,
When overwhelm is manufactured to diminish our humanity, deliberate joy is a powerful
form of resistance. In the story of Exodus, we see Miriam, a female prophet leading the
Israelites in the wilderness after their liberation from slavery in Egypt. When the people
are still catching their breath, traumatized from their years of abuse, and shell-shocked
by their new circumstances, Miriam does both the unthinkable and the extraordinary:
she busts out a tambourine and begins leading song and dance. This seemingly
frivolous and – arguably – inappropriate act, is revolutionary in both its defiance and its
respite. In fact, some might argue, Miriam’s song and dance in the wilderness was the
fulfillment of the God’s petition that Pharoah refused to grant. This bold woman has
much to teach us about finding joy and resistance despite fatigue and manufactured
feelings of inadequacy.
In Bible Study this Sunday after worship, we will be digging into the prayer that Jesus
taught us in Matthew, chapter 6. We are asking people to bring one or two prayers from
your memory or family history that have been meaningful to you when you needed hope
or peace. On Sunday, November 1 we will be assembling Protestant Rosaries. All are
welcome to participate, and a donation of $15 is requested for the materials. None will
be turned away for lack of funds.
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, November 1 is All Saints Sunday. We invite you to bring a picture or memento
of a saint from your own family or personal history that has passed on. We will be
honoring them during worship and you will be able to take your photos home after the
service.
We will look forward to seeing you there!
Many blessings,
Pastor Tracy