Transformative
hope in a
complex world.

For me, like most of our community, state, nation and world, 2021 couldn’t get here fast enough. As someone said, “2020 is turning 21 and can now legally drink.” Jokes aside, it is tempting to believe that 2021 will be substantially different, and for good reasons. Vaccines on their way, a new administration in Washington promising to apply all the resources available to the federal government to produce, disperse and administer the vaccine, and the willingness of millions to get inoculated when their turn arrives are all hopeful signs. And yet the challenge of new variants of the virus here in Colorado means the changes we pray and hope for may not come as quickly as we desire. Living between the promise of change and the arrival of such change will require us to keep the faith, trust the routines we developed that enabled us to reach 2021, and do what we are able to do to care for one another. Patience is required and we are not allowed to demand it be given to us immediately!!! 

 

The good news is that we have managed the last 10 months of 2020 perhaps better than we might have expected. Washington Park UCC has met the difficulties associated with doing electronic worship with the same energy, commitment, and willingness to adapt, modify and adjust that has guided the Church throughout our 95 years of existence. You have remained connected as best you can. Like those who have gone before, you are a remarkable congregation full of doers, ever ready to respond to needs as they develop while sustaining current ministries in these pandemic times. Our family of faith lives love and compassion as best we can even as we face the struggles of our day. Gifts and abilities are shared generously to help address the issues we face and meet needs as they are made known. Our community, nation and world are better places because of the work you do locally that manifest themselves globally. You are an amazing group of change makers that epitomizes the Hebrew proverb, “Those who save a life, save the world one life at a time.” As we will remind ourselves through this first month of 2021, we are different with varied strengths, beliefs, perspectives, and understandings of how we might manage the future. We have been given a book of blank pages awaiting the new chapters we will write in the coming year. The ties that bind us are the relationships and values we share. None of us is perfect and yet all seem to genuinely enjoy our Wash Park family that reaches beyond our four walls, from California to New York and many places in between!

 

May God bless and keep you, may They make their face to shine upon you, may She favor you with health, hope, peace, joy, love and light as we continue our journey in the strength of the Divine.