The sunrise comes earlier each day in the new year and the morning sky is lit with brilliant colors. The wise men have followed the light and found the Christ Child.
But, here at home, the news continues to be frightening, the numbers continue to climb, the lines are long, and the anger and the violence dim the light. It may feel at times as though, being masked, “We come to the Garden Alone,” seeking community when we are told to keep our distance from each other. It is difficult to find joy these days.
At a recent December clergy workshop by DaySpring Counseling, a service of Penn Foundation, Rev. Sue Conrad Howes, Director of Pastoral Services at Penn Foundation and a member of Mosaic Conference, spoke of finding joy and grace. She reminds us that finding joy is a cultivated journey and not necessarily the same as happiness.
I invite you to watch Chaplain Sue’s practical message, entitled, “Finding Joy this Masked Season.” She engages us with her humor, practical suggestions, and stories of making space for joy, giving, and sharing self-grace. The message resonates for 2021. May it do so for you as you lead from and with God’s joy and grace.
Our Conference Related Ministries (CRMs), in their varied ways, continue to provide basic life-supporting necessities, healing, hope, and places of security and safety. In a recent email to the Penn Foundation staff, from Penn Foundation’s President and CEO, Wayne Magrauer, Magruaer wrote,“ We have faced challenging times before and emerged to brighter days strengthened by the experience. Please continue to have faith and heart, knowing that your work has never been more appreciated or important.”
Please continue to pray for the leaders and staff of our Conference Related Ministries, the hands and feet of our Conference beyond our churches, into the homes and hearts of our communities.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.