A Pastoral Letter from Jeff Vamos
On Tuesday evening, we experienced what we knew would be an historic decision for our country, as we elected a new president after a very contentious, difficult and emotional campaign. The outcome of that decision has affected members of our congregation in different ways – some expressing a sense of hopefulness, others expressing a sense of anxiety and great sadness. Recognizing that we’re a community of faith, a “motley crew” of people who care deeply about our country and about each other, I’d exhort us to be gentle with each other, and with ourselves, as we deal with the feelings that this election has elicited in us. I also want to suggest that a very constructive way for us all to respond to this moment, whatever your political persuasion, is to gather for worship – to pray for our nation, and to support one another.
One of the great strengths of our congregation is the fact that our Christian faith allows us to disagree within the boundaries of loving “Koinonia,” the Greek word for our uniquely Christian form of community. We are indeed liberal and conservative worshipping together, as we all seek to engage faithfully and passionately with the needs of the world, applying our reading of scripture to our own consciences. It gives me hope that this congregation does that in a way that seeks to be sensitive and open, and attentive to each other and our differences. That seems to me a very hopeful way to model the way forward for our country as a whole.
So the upshot of it all, see you in worship on Sunday.
Blessings in the name of Christ,
Jeff V.
