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October 2007 “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, when the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the world is tossing me, like ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.” (Charles Albert Tindley, 1906, #512 In the UM Hymnal) Our church has certainly been tossed about within a raging storm this past summer. Our hearts were torn from us and broken and we were left to support each other and do the best we could do carry on in ministry, in friendship, in faithfulness. We did just that with God’s help and presence standing by us we’ve been able to do, be and share that with each other, those outside the church, to the Petit family and especially the children. I am so proud of this church and its capacity to love and serve God and all others who cried out in pain. The church and its presence, support and prayers have buoyed me up as pastor and fellow mourner. We lost six beloved members this past summer, six! Dave Earley, Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela, Charles Benoit and Dot Bennett. Our prayers have been and continue to be with those families. The storms of life raged and it is only by the grace of God that we can stand in our faith – and that we can stand at all. Let our prayer be “Stand by me, O Lord. Stand by all, who with us, are affected by this loss. O Lord, stand by us. Amen.” Trust in God to be there, even in those dark times, those weepy times, those times we sense loss. And trust, too, that there are people in our church who’ll be there for you to listen, pray and hope with or for you. We are a blessed church because of the fine array of faithful people who witness to God’s saving love and God’s eternal and strong, abiding presence. In what appears to be the absence of God at times, they will provide a healing, spirit-filled presence that can become as a conduit for God’s Spirit to touch your life. Come, stand by us, O saving Lord, and bring your healing and your hope to us. Amen.
The Blessings & Peace of God Be Yours, Pastor Steve
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