May 2009 Message from the Pastor

In Hard Times

The impact of the recession has been a continuing theme in our worship and especially in our prayers. We are reminded of it daily in the media and in conversations. We have all felt some of the impact in our lives or the lives of friends and family who have lost jobs or income or live with greater anxiety.

Last month, Susanne MacDougall, our Council President, wrote a wonderful article in the Peace Messenger about our concern to help each other during hard times like these. I want to echo those thoughts and give you some additional food for thought and action.

Our Social Ministry Committee, our Stephen Ministry Team, the Council and I are some of the resources you can turn to in times of personal crisis. We want to know what your needs are as well as the needs of those you know. With more information about the kinds of needs there are, the more effectively we can organize and prepare responses.

As Susanne mentioned, we can’t provide all the help you or your family may need but often the care of others leads to real help. Prayers, information, contacts with others with similar needs can be of real help. I’m aware of other churches like Saratoga Federated that has organized counseling, networking groups, weekly information seminars and personal assistance that has been of significant support to people out of work and looking for jobs. In limited ways we can offer some financial support for particular critical needs.

I do know from my years as a social worker that crisis periods are made all the more severe when people suffer in solitude. Our fears and anxiety are amplified by isolation. It may be difficult to tell others about our problems, especially if we’ve been quite self-sufficient in the past. But when you learn that you’re not alone, that others do indeed care and may have special talents to meet your needs, it is can be quite comforting. Keep in mind that God still loves you and may be trying to reach you through the people around you who want to help.

It may only take a phone call to me or one of the people listed on the back page of this newsletter to get the help you need. We will protect your privacy. We will work with you to respond in ways that you feel are appropriate. We will make it through these hard times and we will trust in God’s power to help us heal, grow and know the peace that God indeed does provide.


Pastor Jim Friedrich