This month of October has confirmed something to me that I already knew, Faith UMC is a generous and faithful church. During the month of October we have held several mission drives, as we have collected various items for our community partners. Overwhelmingly, as those donations have been shared with our partners, they have all been surprised and blessed. Thank you for your generosity! Additionally to collection drives, you have been faithful in service. We have had volunteers who have served at the Old Bethel & Partners Food Pantry, and a wonderful team of people who helped out at the Moorhead Resource Center Fall Festival. One of the common threads I have noticed, as people have served and donated, is that of joy. Joy is beyond happiness, there’s something deeper about joy. Indeed, joy is often a choice, and joy unifies and sustains. Joy is contagious. Joy breeds hope. When people gather, such as last night’s Fall Festival event, joy is present.
“Joy is an inherent inner aliveness.” ~Father Richard Rohr
I love that quote by Richard Rohr, about the inherent nature of joy. Have you noticed when joy appears? Not only does it appear in giving and service, but (at times) joy appears in moments that are surprising. I have seen joy appear at funerals, beside hospital beds, and as people remember loved ones. In those moments (just mentioned), that is when joy shows itself to be beyond happiness, and to be sustaining. With that in mind, there is something both inherent and mysterious about joy. However mysterious and surprising joy may appear sometimes, one thing is for certain, we are thankful for the gift of joy.
May the joy of the Lord be our strength. May the mysterious and surprising appearance of joy sustain us. May the beauty of joy give us hope.
Blessings!
Pastor Matthew
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