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| Rev. Sarah J. Verasco, Fairfield County Regional Minister |
This week's author is the Rev. Sarah J. Verasco, Fairfield County Regional Minister for the Connecticut Conference, UCC.
[God said], "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
As strange as this may sound,
I sometimes forget how much I enjoy
and need
silence.
Like the pause
after a beautiful and moving
piece of music,
silence
allows for deepening.
And filling.
For savoring and truly tasting.
I am wholly convinced that our God who so deeply hears
the cries of the poor
heals us
forms us and
sets our hearts aflame
in
silence
"I am silent... and expectant"
by Ted Loder
How silently,
how silently
the wondrous gift is given.
I would be silent now,
Lord,
and expectant...
that I may receive
the gift I need,
so I may become
the gifts others need.
Please remember:
Hilary Willard, daughter to Bob Willard and the Rev. Claire Bamberg, transitional pastor of the Congregational Church of Plainville, UCC, who was injured in a car accident and discovered additional health concerns;
our partners in the Kyung-Ki Presbytery and their communities on the Korean peninsula, with prayers for peace in the midst of increased tension;
the families and friends of those who died in the flash flood in the Albert Pike Recreation Area in Arkansas last Friday.
Please remember:
residents of the Gulf Coast affected by the disastrous oil rig failure, the families of the workers who died, and all those seeking to contain the well and protect the coastlines;
the Rev. Noel Velez, former Minister of Hispanic Ministries in the Connecticut Conference, hospitalized in Florida;
Elizabeth Naylor, daughter-in-law of the Rev. Robert Naylor, pastor of the Second Congregational Church UCC in Greenwich, who is being treated for lymphoma;
the Rev. M. J. Hinchliff, pastor of First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC, of East Haddam, who is being treated for cancer;
the Rev. Marcia C. Eveland, pastor of the First Congregational Church UCC of Ansonia, who has suffered a seriously broken wrist;
the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree and her spouse, David, and their daughter Elizabeth, who suffered a stroke on December 12 and is undergoing rehabilitation;
the Rev. Nancy Allen, associate minister of Immanuel Congregational Church UCC in Hartford, as she undergoes cancer treatment;
the people of Haiti recovering from the devastation of the earthquake and the people who seek to aid them;
this nation, that it may continue its difficult work to end the practices of racism;
the Conference's partners working for peace in Colombia amidst violence;
the leaders of this nation, that they may meet the challenges of the day with insight, wisdom, and compassion;
those suffering due to the ongoing financial woes of the nation, be they struggling to meet an unaffordable mortgage, confronting the loss of a job, or working to find just resolutions to the crisis; and
those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck, particularly in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, Israel, Gaza, and the Sudan.
To be added to the prayer list, please send an email to Rev. Eric Anderson at: webmaster@ctucc.org.
Westbrook
First Cong'l Church
P The Rev. John W. Wilson
PE The Rev. Robert G. Van Gorder
CE Ms. Jill Wenker
Weston
Norfield Cong'l Church Society
P The Rev. Bernard R. Wilson
AP The Rev. Diane M. Carter
CE Ms. Penny Anderson
Westport
Cong'l Ch of Green's Farms
P The Rev. Jeffrey P. Rider
AP Ms. Amy M. Forte
AP The Rev. Daniel B. England
AP The Rev. John D. Twiname
Westport
Saugatuck Cong'l Ch of Westport, Inc.
IN The Rev. Howard H. Tobak
PE The Rev. Theodore G. Hoskins
CE Ms. Abby Peterson
Willimantic
First Cong'l Ch of Willimantic
IN The Rev. David W. Minnick
To read previous editions of the Spirit Calendar, visit:
http://www.ctucc.org/fido/spiritcalendar/
To learn more about or subscribe to the Spirit Calendar, visit:
http://www.ctucc.org/fido/
The Spirit Calendar: June 14, 2010 by Rev. Sarah J. Verasco, Fairfield County Regional Minister
