A Word From Our Pastor
Acknowledgment is important, and this month, we will focus on acknowledging several topics that merit our attention.
On the first Sunday of May (which is mental health awareness month), we will acknowledge the importance of mental health and the struggles that arise when dealing with mental health issues. The topic of mental health is often ignored because of society's treatment of the subject of taboo, but this attitude exacerbates the challenges that people dealing with mental health issues must face. We will acknowledge the reality of the struggles that many who are facing mental health issues endure, and encourage compassion, both for ourselves and for those around us.
The second Sunday of May is Mother's Day, and we will acknowledge the gift of motherhood. This is a time set aside each year to express gratitude to those who have served as mother figures in our lives, whether they are our biological mother, a close relative, or simply someone with deep maternal instincts who has cared for us. Our moms do so much for us that we sometimes take them for granted, and this is a perfect time to remember them.
On the third Sunday of May, we'll celebrate the groundbreaking of our new Memorial Garden. This is a project that the trustees have been diligently working on for a long time, and we are gratefully acknowledging the fruit of their labor. As we commemorate the good work of our trustees, we will also acknowledge the new opportunity to remember our loved ones in a special way.
The next two Sundays are Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday, special celebrations of our faith tradition that acknowledge our roots and the gift of the Spirit.
Acknowledgment is important because it demonstrates awareness and gratitude. It shows that we are aware of the mental health challenges people in our community face, the gifts of time and attention from our mothers, the dedication of our volunteers, and the gifts we receive from God. And simply demonstrating awareness is one way of expressing gratitude. In a spirit of joy, let's acknowledge all that God has done for us and those who accept their role as being expressions of God's love in this world.
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Mike