Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

That greeting seems more a bit more poignant this morning after the stormy events of yesterday. What a traumatic experience for many in our community, the likes of which we may still be discovering more about this morning. We have been in touch with church members who we know have been directly affected by the tornado laden storms. By God’s grace, to our knowledge, thus far, there were no casualties among our congregation. Though there were some scary close calls and a good number of our friends have some major clean up and repair to address as the wake stretches through weeks ahead.

If you know of anyone who needs attention (including yourself), please connect with a pastoral staff member or a deacon. We want to support with care and help with practical needs as much as we can. And we are trying to get a pulse of other needs and ways to share in a generous community response. As we become aware of specific ways to give, we’ll continue to communicate … as we ever hold in prayer first responders, medical professionals, electrical technicians, social workers, volunteers in many capacities, and all others who work in these hours and days ahead to provide sanctuary and nurture the abundant life we believe God desires for all people and creation.

We sang this past Sunday: “… No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that Rock I’m clinging. Since Christ / Love is Lord of heaven and earth …” We recall scriptural stories from others over the ages who have affirmed that God’s presence is more powerful than any stormy chaos; and after the whirlwind, God is with us, filling the sheer silence. As we clean up, and extend our hearts to one another, and perhaps wipe away a few tears … so may it be for us. Emmanuel. “Since Christ / Love is Lord of heaven and earth …” may we keep singing of Holy Love in all of our service … and so, amid the stress, may we share symbiotically some measure of peace.

Grace and Peace, Seth