A Note from Our Pastor

Today was the 4th year of remembering the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our country. Our pastor, Earl Palmer, put this letter to the congregation in the bulletin. The *** markings are mine, to note what really struck me.


September 11 is a day permanently marked in our memory when many men and women lost their lives in New York, Washington DC and on Flight 93 over western Pennsylvania. On that day we met to grieve and pray for God's help. But if that was a day of assault by those who wanted to harm and destroy ordinary people, it also became a day we discovered bravery and courage in the actions of firefighters, police officers and ordinary people too. When it was over, this second discovery of faithfulness to duty, of love in the present and hope for the future turned out to be more durable than the terror of hate. Since 2001 other people in other nations have experienced the same two realities of harm from the brutal violence against ordinary people and of bravery in the responses ofr ordinary people. ***Evil has a poison within itself that in the end destroys its own servants, but love, hope and faithfulness have the durability of truth and life on their side.*** Faithfulness to a righteous purpose and love that dares to care for people here and now and hope that invests in the future together possess a lasting power that is validated by St. Paul's promise to us that "where sin increased the grace of God increased more" (Romans 5). May we be people who are faithful to a goodly purpose with practical love here and now toward people around us and with hope that trusts God's promises for the future.