Dear Caldwell,
“Behold, I am making all things new.” – Isaiah 43
I pray that God’s word to the prophet give you life and hope in these hard days when our nation has the chance to change – and is changing. God’s promise to Isaiah has long been an assurance that God is faithfully at work, moving us all toward God’s vision for justice and love, even in the days when the opposite seems to be true.
Scripture also tells us that God takes the scales from our eyes and allows us to see anew. That is the subject of my sermon for Sunday as we take a look at part of Hagar’s story in Genesis 16:1-16. That’s just it; this is Hagar’s story, or, I should say, the story of how God chose and used Hagar for holy things.
Admittedly, the church has too often read this story otherwise, relegating Hagar to a secondary role and placing the spotlight on the other characters, namely Abram and Sarai. On Sunday, I will invite you along as we see this story through a more contemporary lens – all as part of answering God’s call to transcend our personal and individual views and perspectives so that we can see certain truths through the eyes of others, particularly those on the margins of the story.
VESPERS
Meantime, all are invited to end today with the comfort of community in our vespers’s gathering tonight at 8. Gail and Lia will lead us in reflecting on gratitude through three passages, Psalm 30:1-12, Psalm 136:1-26, and Philippians 4:4-9.
Finally, I am happy to report that Gino Harris underwent successful surgery yesterday and will be recovering in the hospital for a few more days. I hope to get to see him.
Watch for all the details about life at Caldwell in Caldwell This Week.
In Christ,
John