April 27, 2017
On more than one occasion, I’ve heard the comment, “Lakeshore is a busy little church.” Opportunities abound to worship, work and witness together on a regular basis: from weekly worship, Sunday School, Bible Study and choir rehearsals to monthly potlucks, book groups, film discussions and church meetings; from community festivals and community meetings to serving dinners at shelters and providing assistance to those who reach out to the church; from working to close the achievement gap and reduce gun violence in our city to addressing issues of hunger, homelessness and the environment, Lakeshore provides a plethora of ways to love and serve, and I hope you are involved in some of these important ways to engage our faith.
I am so proud of my church and how it seeks to live out the Gospel, engaging our heads, hands and hearts to be the people of God in our community. And yet, amidst all the activity, all the good opportunities and the needed service projects, sometimes I just need a chance to slow down, rest, and retreat. If you can relate, I encourage you to consider making a commitment to one of the following ways of finding space to be still:
- (pause): A Place to Reflect – come, sit in the sanctuary, listen to music, pray through art, movement and meditation, light a candle and let go of life’s demands – even if only for a moment; this two-hour event, Saturday, May 6 from 1-3, does wonders for stilling your soul and encountering God’s life-giving, creative Spirit.
- All Church Retreat – spend a weekend away from it all, nestled in the Redwoods, detached from the demands of life with a little time to just be: to fellowship, to learn, to hike, or just to take a nap in a calm space; one weekend (July 21-23) with nature, God and a caring community provides meaningful space for connection, contemplation and celebration of the goodness of life.
As we journey together, may we find ways to both do the work of God, and to center our souls in stillness, as God leads us forward.
Peace,
Allison