August 2026
“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ~ Matthew 7:7-11 (NRSV)
Friends in Christ,
The above Gospel reading from Matthew is one I am sure we are very familiar with. It is a verse that offers us great comfort and reminds us to put our faith and trust in the love of God.
However, I caution you to interpret this text to mean that God will grant you anything and everything you ask for; God is not a vending machine afterall. We can’t simply enter our prayer as payment, push a few buttons and have our desires dispensed to us. I understand this text to mean that God walks beside us as we move through life and when we encounter a roadblock, as we assuredly will, we can rely on the love of God and guidance of our faith to help carry us through.
Remember to rely on the guidance that God provides as the church works to find its new way forward. I have felt the love of God, the love of church, the love of community that you have all exhibited over the past seven months and I know your deepest desire is to continue to thrive and grow as a church so you can continue the very important work you have been doing. The path forward is not as solid and sure as you would all like it to be, none of us can be certain what the future holds. What I can be certain of is that God is with you, God loves you and if you stay open to it, God will help guide you forward. You will need to listen deeply and trust in the grace God offers.
I am excited to see what is ahead for all of us but I know I will need to be patient and listen.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Lesley
