Water in the Wilderness Blog (On Hiatus During Staff Transition)

We hope that even though you were worshiping from home you didn’t skip coffee hour! Personally, I took my tea out into my backyard for a little time outside to enjoy the sun on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. These days, I’m finding myself more and more full of gratitude for time outside. The fact that we get to feel the sun on our faces without touching them (Don’t touch your face!) and to hear the birds happily going about their business even through this global crisis is a gift to me and to us all.

As I sat outside observing some plump overfed Cambridge squirrels going about their business I was reminded of this passage from the Gospel of Matthew:

“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will God not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:26-34; NRSV)

What simple pleasures have you rediscovered lately? What’s your favorite coffee or tea to make at home?

We sincerely hope that today was a time of sabbath from all the fear and uncertainty we have been navigating in our individual and collective lives. At least for today, let us not worry about tomorrow, for God is big enough for all of it and for all of us.

Signing out with a prayer sent to us from Holly Marple today:

“A prayer: God, in this time of physical separation remind us of your tether of love that can not be broken. Remind us that you see our needs and hear our cries. Though we feel the ache of loneliness we are not alone. Though we may fear the darkness your light within us will overcome it. Love’s embrace is more powerful than the earthly forces that are keeping us apart physically; love holds us together eternally. Amen!”

Amen indeed! With every sip of peppermint tea, my heart and prayers are with you, dear church,

Lexi Boudreaux

Pastoral Associate, First Church in Cambridge