God is our Refuge and Strength

That is the anthem that our Choir is singing on Sunday morning taken from Psalm 46.

Since we are celebrating World Communion Sunday this week, we are encouraging all our church services to meet as one body on Sunday morning at the 11:00 am service.

Instead of a service on Saturday night, we will have a prayer gathering
in a loose resemblance of a Jewish shiva.

"Shiva" in Jewish customs is the 7 day period after the loss of a loved one.
There are regulations and protocols for the friends of a family that has experienced loss,
and it is a custom for people to adequately express their emotions
and help a family during this time.

For example, a custom that we are emulating for Saturday night is
bringing food to the house of the grieving.
Yes, bring your favorite comfort food on Saturday night to share!

We will be doing lots of praying, and in honor of the losses of Job,
we will learn together how to effectively act towards someone suffering from loss.


Sometimes, we think of church as the place where we always have to be happy
and put on a mask
so nobody knows our real feelings
if we are struggling.

It is hard for us to deal with others who are suffering sometimes.
We don't know what to say.
We don't know how to feel.
We are afraid to connect.
But church is the place where we can be together
for fellowship
for support
for love
no matter what is going on with us.

As Pastor Abi said on Sunday, God is big enough that you can bring your whole self to him.

We want you to feel comfortable to bring your whole selves here, to Faith Renaissance.

Grace and Peace,

Virginia Yates