We started this part of our journey together nearly eight years ago, when I joined  Pastor Steve and Hope as staff in Summer 2014. One of the first things I did was take a look at our Facebook page and select a Bible verse to convey a warm spiritual compass sentiment.  We led with “rooted and grounded in love” from Ephesians 3:
 
I pray that, according to the riches of Divine glory, God may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through the Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
 
This remains my sense of who we are at the core – rooted and grounded in love. It remains my sense that we’re on a journey to refine and strengthen and trust that love, even more. It is certainly my daily prayer that we will all grow in perception and reception of God’s strength, faith, love, power.  Material stresses and demands can deplete us and test our faith.  In our personal lives and in our ministry together.  May this passage remind us again of our core calling… to be a sanctuary people who nurture for ourselves the grounding, resilience and wellbeing it describes.  

We cannot share what we don’t have.
 
You’ll see an emphasis on “spiritual wellbeing” in the Echo this week, inspired by a conversation Ed opened at Council meeting.  As your leaders discern our needs for Eden’s work in the coming weeks, you may be asked to consider serving in an elected or other capacity.  I pray that you will consider what you need for wellbeing in this season, remembering that the Christian way of life also trusts that giving, sacrifice, serving others BRING wellbeing.  If the gifts and passions we share are well matched, well discerned, and right FOR THIS SEASON, there is great blessing.  
 
You’ll hear more in coming weeks.  Please join me now in fresh expressions of prayer for yourself, your family and your church’s wellbeing.
 
In Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Jacki