Message from Rev Melanie for October 2021
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
--Psalm 118:24
A few days ago a woman came to the food pantry and received food for her family. She was overcome with gratitude, so thankful that she asked for paper and pen to write a note. She wrote one to say thank you and that we will be in her family's prayers and another to ask for prayer for a member of her family.
In her time of great need, a time in which she doesn't have enough to eat and she has serious concerns for a family member with cancer, her response was gratitude.
The composer of Psalm 118 writes about being completely surrounded by enemies buzzing like bees, poking like thorns, and yet there is time for gratitude to God. There is time to rejoice that today has come.
When we are surrounded by difficulty, fear, pain, and tragedy, it would be easy to retreat into ourselves and to throw our hands in the air and give up, let us try to do as the psalmist does and as our pantry client does. Let's take a moment out of our tears and wailing to say "thank you" for today. Thank you that the sun rose once again, thank you that we are part of a loving community, thank you for food and water, thank you for family, thank you for all the simple gifts. And let us also take a moment to pray for someone who is a blessing.
I am grateful for all of you.
Melanie
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Skyland Community Church, United Church of Christ
25100 Skyland Road
Los Gatos, CA 95033
phone: 408-353-1310
USPS mail: Skyland Church
P.O. Box 245
Los Gatos, CA 95031-0245
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