March 15, 2024
Hey, hello, Village family, and a good Friday to you. It's good to see you.
So this past week I was talking to a friend of mine. She's down in Austin, Texas, and she's facing a whole series of challenges. Her husband, also a friend of mine, is in dementia, and that's a struggle. And to add on to that, she did something to her back, last summer actually, and she's been through one surgery and it looks like she'll need another one in hopes to repair her back, at least to get rid of her pain. And they're also moving from their house into a[n] adult community where they can get care for her husband, but also for her as well. There's a lot going on in her life. And I asked, "How are you doing?" And she said, I'm holding on. I'm holding on. And then I asked to, "To what? To whom? How are you holding on?" And she said, well, to friends like you, to family, her son, her daughter and their families, to God, to the Holy Spirit... Holding on.
So we're getting nearer to Holy Week, and we're exploring the Lenten practices. We've talked about the practice of prayer, the practice of fasting, the practice of letting go. And this past Sunday, thanks to our guest preacher, the Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston, we explored the practice of empathy. And this Sunday we'll explore the Lenten practice of holding on. And we'll talk about to whom you hold on, to what you hold on, and how we do that.
So on this Friday, wherever you are in your life, I hope that you're holding on, and I hope that holding on is sustaining you and giving you grace in these moments and the moments to come. I'm so, so grateful for you and to you. Friends, the Lord be with you. Look forward to seeing you on Sunday, whether in person or online, and together, let's hold on.
Take care,
Rodger
Hey, hello, Village family, and a good Friday to you. It's good to see you.
So this past week I was talking to a friend of mine. She's down in Austin, Texas, and she's facing a whole series of challenges. Her husband, also a friend of mine, is in dementia, and that's a struggle. And to add on to that, she did something to her back, last summer actually, and she's been through one surgery and it looks like she'll need another one in hopes to repair her back, at least to get rid of her pain. And they're also moving from their house into a[n] adult community where they can get care for her husband, but also for her as well. There's a lot going on in her life. And I asked, "How are you doing?" And she said, I'm holding on. I'm holding on. And then I asked to, "To what? To whom? How are you holding on?" And she said, well, to friends like you, to family, her son, her daughter and their families, to God, to the Holy Spirit... Holding on.
So we're getting nearer to Holy Week, and we're exploring the Lenten practices. We've talked about the practice of prayer, the practice of fasting, the practice of letting go. And this past Sunday, thanks to our guest preacher, the Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston, we explored the practice of empathy. And this Sunday we'll explore the Lenten practice of holding on. And we'll talk about to whom you hold on, to what you hold on, and how we do that.
So on this Friday, wherever you are in your life, I hope that you're holding on, and I hope that holding on is sustaining you and giving you grace in these moments and the moments to come. I'm so, so grateful for you and to you. Friends, the Lord be with you. Look forward to seeing you on Sunday, whether in person or online, and together, let's hold on.
Take care,
Rodger
We invite you to worship with us
Sundays at 9 & 11 a.m. (traditional worship) and 5 p.m. (The Gathering, alternative worship) at our Mission Campus
and 9:30 a.m. (traditional worship) at our Antioch Campus. If you can’t make it in person, you can livestream our services online.
and 9:30 a.m. (traditional worship) at our Antioch Campus. If you can’t make it in person, you can livestream our services online.